Is Glyphosate dangerous for bees?
Glyphosate and glyphosate-based products have been extensively tested both in laboratories and in fields to evaluate potential toxicity to honeybees. The result of those tests show that they have neither acute nor chronic adverse effects to honeybees. This means that bees are neither killed nor damaged in case they get into contact with glyphosate.
For example, a comprehensive study by Thompson et al (2014) found no adverse effects on adult bee survival or bee brood survival or development in honeybee colonies treated with glyphosate at levels that exceed environmentally realistic exposures.
Regulatory authorities, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), conduct comprehensive evaluations to ensure crop protection products, such as glyphosate, can be safely used in the environment when used in accordance with the label instructions.
As part of this process, regulatory authorities specifically evaluate the potential for effects on non-target organisms, including honeybees. Only products that pose no unacceptable risk to the environment are approved.
References
- FAO Visualize [retrieved 20.02.2020]
- Ferguson, F. 1988. Long term effects of systemic pesticides on honey bees. Bee keeping in the year 2000: Second Australian and International Beekeeping Congress, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, July 21-26, 1988. Editor: John W. Rhodes. Pages: 137-141.
- Burgett, M. and Fisher, G. 1990. A review of the Belizean honey bee industry: Final report prepared at the request of The Belize Honey Producers Federation. Department of Entomology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon.
- Thompson HM, Levine SL, Doering J, Norman S, Manson P, Sutton P, von Mérey G. (2014) Evaluating exposure and potential effects on honeybee brood (Apis mellifera) development using glyphosate as an example. Integr Environ Assess Manag. 2014 Feb 25. doi: 10.1002/ieam.1529.
- EFSA conclusion on pesticide peer review [Retrieved February 12, 2019]
- Registration Review - Preliminary Ecological Risk Assessment for Glyphosate and its Salts [Retrieved February 12, 2019]