Subject: [Homestead] Fw: U.S. Congress Asked to Probe Farming Practices as Cause of Bee Die-Off
Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 22:44:15 -0800
FYI
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
editor AT apitherapynews.com wrote:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Congress Asked to Probe Farming Practices as Cause of Bee Die-Off
Apitherapists issue Passau Declaration on Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder
(Passau, Germany, 3/25/2007) An international group of researchers and
practitioners of Apitherapy, the medicinal use of bee hive products, meeting
in Germany today called on the U.S. Congress to investigate new farming
practices as a possible cause of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).
CCD, which results in a massive die-off of honey bees, was initially limited
to hives in North America, but beekeepers in several European nations have
recently reported a similar phenomenon. The cause or causes of CCD have not
been determined. Experts say causes of CCD may include environmental
stress, malnutrition, unknown diseases, parasitic mites, misuse of
pesticides, or pollen and nectar collected by the bees from genetically
modified (GM) crops that produce Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The problem
could affect a third of the foods farmers produce and may have a severe
economic impact.
See: Are GM Crops Killing Bees? (Spiegel Magazine)
See: Bee Shortage Could Sting Food Production (Fayetteville Observer)
On March 29, the Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Subcommittee of the
House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing called "Review of Colony
Collapse Disorder in Honey Bee Colonies Across the United States."
The Passau Declaration on Colony Collapse Disorder was issued today at the
conclusion of the 5th International Congress on Bee Products, Apitherapy and
Apipuncture in Passau, Germany. It states...