Improving pesticide-use data for the EU

Abstract

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Do pesticide and pathogen interactions drive wild bee declines?

“…Given this, studies of interactions between stressors need to incorporate a more balanced approach, which recognizes the potential importance of other agrochemicals ( Straw et al, 2022 ). This, in turn, requires a knowledge of the extent to which wild bees are exposed to these other agrochemical stressors, as without this, experiments cannot assess real-world hazard or risk ( Mesnage et al, 2021 ; Straw et al, 2022 ). Of the ∼20,400 species of wild bees, actual exposure to any agrochemical has only been investigated for a handful of species (mainly from the genera Bombus , Osmia , Megachile , or Melipona ), and this is a major lacuna that urgently needs to be filled.…”

“…Among the many pitfalls of laboratory experiments in addressing pesticide-pathogen interactions are importantly unrealistic or irrelevant concentrations of pesticides used ( Carreck and Ratnieks, 2014 ). To avoid this pitfall, knowledge of the extent to which wild bees are exposed to the studied pesticide(s) is essential ( Mesnage et al, 2021 ; Sanchez-bayo and Goka, 2014 ). However, such data are currently largely lacking for many pesticides and exposure scenarios for different wild bee species ( Kopit and Pitts-Singer, 2018 ; Main et al, 2020 ).…”

“…However, such data are currently largely lacking for many pesticides and exposure scenarios for different wild bee species ( Kopit and Pitts-Singer, 2018 ; Main et al, 2020 ). But experiments cannot assess real-world risks of pesticides and their interactive effects with pathogens on wild bees without such data ( EFSA, 2014b ; Mesnage et al, 2021 ; Sgolastra et al, 2020 , 2019 ). Similarly, laboratory studies testing effects and underlying mechanisms of interactions between pesticides and pathogens should ensure realistic infection scenarios and pathogen loads for different wild bee species.…”

Pesticide Use and Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sugar Beet, Apples, and Viticulture in Austria from 2000 to 2019

“…As in many European countries, the data situation and transparency of pesticide use in Austria is weak due to data and trade security issues of pesticide manufacturers [67]. Publicly available spatial information on pesticides is completely lacking in Austria.…”

“…A simple way to reduce GHG emissions would be to eliminate the use of herbicides, as organic farming successfully demonstrates that farming without herbicides is economically feasible [63]. In any case, more accurate production-and use-related data would be needed to allow for a more accurate calculation of GHG emissions [67].…”