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500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

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Being significant contributors to the reproduction of various plants, bees are one of the most integral pollinators in nature. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), bees are responsible for pollinating 75% of the world’s crops. However, they are rapidly dying. Within a 3-month period, Brazil has lost over 500 million bees, leaving the future of our food in question.

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

It is reported that 500 million bees dying were found by beekeepers in four Brazilian states — 400 million in the Rio Grande do Sul, 7 million in São Paulo, 50 million in Santa Catarina, and 45 million in Mato Grosso do Sul.

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

Image credits: scrural.sc.gov.br

The data has been collected from December 2018 to February 2019.

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

Image credits: rostichep (not the actual photo)

The vice president of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul beekeeping association, Aldo Machado, told Bloomberg that within 48 hours, tens of thousands of honey bees in his colony died after falling sick. “As soon as the healthy bees began clearing the dying bees out of the hives, they became contaminated. They started dying en masse,” he said.

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

Image credits: hpgruesen (not an actual photo)

The researchers put blame on this devasting situation to the high increase of pesticide use. Since January Brazil has approved almost 300 new pesticides for use on crops.

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

Researchers have found pesticide traces, such as fipronil, in some of the flying insects. It is an insecticide that is commonly used for veterinary purposes, such as helping to get rid of fleas and ticks.

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies fipronil as a possible human carcinogen.

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

Image credits: skeeze ( not an actual photo)

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Not only does this mean that pesticides are harmful to bees, but the effect on humans is also worrying.

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

Image credits: NiklasPntk (not an actual photo)

Alberto Bastos, the president of the Apiculturist Association of Brazil’s Federal District, told Bloomberg that: “The death of all these bees is a sign that we’re being poisoned.” So what are we waiting for? It’s time to save the bees and ourselves now.

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

Image credits: NiklasPntk (not an actual photo)

Here’s how people reacted

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

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500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

500 Million Bees Have Already Died In Brazil Within Three Months And The Future Of Our Food Is In Question

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Andželika

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What do you think ?

Kanga9ine 5 years ago

I had bees all over my bee proof hummingbird feeder. I loved them. They would follow me to the car. One got in my apartment and flew straight to the light in the kitchen. I got him in a jar by him climbing on some red yarn and took him outside. Never once, even when having to reach up and refill feeder, did I get stung. Came home next day and have not seen a single bee since. Maintenance sprays. It says so in our lease. Right before the warning about the cancer causing agents in the spray they use around our home and flowers and water, pets etc. and even left the pump spray container 1/2 full full until I threw it in the trash. I can not believe how we continually rape our own planet by killing the very creatures who keep us alive.

42points

Laugh Fan 5 years ago

That made me feel so very sad.

12points

Load More Replies...

WillemPenn 5 years ago

I can't bring myself to upvote your comment because it just causes me cognitive dissonance ... like I feel like I am upvoting dead bees even though I'm not. But thank you for sharing. I hope your bees come back.

7points

Fish Boden 5 years ago

Heartbreaking. So many people take for granted the use of s****y chemicals in all areas of life. Pesticides, insecticides etc used indiscriminately. People like us and our friends like the bees are caught in the middle. Sorry about your bee buddies.

2points

Louise B 5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Louise B 5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Katinka Min 5 years ago

Well, by throwing a half full container if insecticides into regular trash you certainly did not make this problem any smaller.

0points

Mark Fuller 5 years ago

So, between the current rainforest wildfire that Brazil claims they "cannot financially afford to deal with" and now this, the country that plays home to "the lungs of the earth" is doing a sterling job of ensuring we all cease to exist in the not too distant future. I despair.

19points

Mewton’s Third Paw 5 years ago

And yet the United States government cries and weeps on and on and on for decades about “terrorism,” and how it’s a global threat, and we have to invade countries over it or the world will end because brown people MIGHT have nukes... but if the world literally burns down and all the insects die, that’s perfectly fine and we can let Brazil and anyone else destroy the actual planet as long as it isn’t because of Islam.

8points

Load More Replies...

Jo Bebe 5 years ago

Mewton you just went off the deep end, We are talking about the improper use of pesticides that have already been tested and PROVED to be carcinogenic (Cancer Causing to Humans) and PROVED to kill insects and bees, however Brazil has chosen to use it and other like it. What does this have to do with the US stepping in on foreign wars or terrorists>? Geez !!!

2points

Marcos Koyama 5 years ago

Just to mention the fipronil was introduced in USA in 1996, as per http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/fipronil.pdf and must be killing honey bees in USA since... In Brazil it was introduced either last year or beginning of this year, so you have 23 years killing advantages over us. As the problem was detected, diagnosed around here, I hope it will resolve the issue soon. I also hope it is a solved case in USA. Honey bees must survive everywhere.

1point

Chico Martins 5 years ago

Se NEVER called ourselves lungs of anything! ANYONE with 2 functional brain cells knows that the oxygen comes from de oceans, and the amazon forest recycles it’s own CO2.

1point

Pandastuck 5 years ago

yeah it's all "brazil"s fault whatever we will all hopefully die very soon anyway

0points

Marcos Koyama 5 years ago

To cure your despair you should try to separate facts from fake-news. There are huge amount of credible statistics that demonstrate Brazil is an example on environment conservation. You please go to you NASA and see there where the world is really burning this week. And please corrrect yourself Brazil doesn't claim to be the lungs of the world, Amazon produces only 6% of the oxygen. And go algo to official statistics demonstrating Brazil preserves 60%+ of its area with natural vegetation, compare this with your own country. Also go deeper to find that Brazil being the first or second biggest agricultural produces uses only 8% of its area for the purpose and compare with your own country. Please learn more about other countries before criticizing. And please notice as posted above that this regretable incident with the bees is localized and is being dealt with since the evidences of causes were identified. In future be more careful to educate yourself before judging.

0points

Marcos Koyama 5 years ago

As you can see from the statistics the problem is localized in the southern part of Brazil. Public Attorney from the state of Rio Grande do Sul has requested the suspension of the use of Fipronil in its foliar version that seems to be the cause of the bee deaths. Most possibly the product will be taken off the market.

12points

Kathy Baylis 5 years ago (edited)

Yeah, but where will they sell off their surplus? I doubt the manufacturer will take it back or recall it, so it’ll probably be sold to another country, and the problem won’t go away. I’m tired of living in an age of mass extinctions. (Yes, I know species go extinct all the time, and always have, but we’re at a point when critical species are becoming endangered, so this is frighteningly different.)

7points

Load More Replies...

Nora AlMeida 5 years ago

Hopefully they will do that

2points

Jose Pires 5 years ago

Suddenly Brasil has become the only country in the world which is killing bees. Also the most populated one, also the country which uses more oil and coal to produce its living. Come on guys. Don't use this lovely pages to spread news without checking the whole thing out, especially unhappy people with the government change. We are 210 million beings. China is 1,3 billion guys. US + 300 million, India + 900 million. And we are responsible for the bee killing? Oh please.

0points

Marcos Koyama 5 years ago

This leaflet describes fipronil, which was originally developed by Rhone-Poulenc by now belongs to BASF. It was accepted in 1996 in the USA and apparently in 2018/2019 in Brazil. It is indeed highly toxic to honey bees.http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/fipronil.pdf

0points

Load More Comments

Kanga9ine 5 years ago

I had bees all over my bee proof hummingbird feeder. I loved them. They would follow me to the car. One got in my apartment and flew straight to the light in the kitchen. I got him in a jar by him climbing on some red yarn and took him outside. Never once, even when having to reach up and refill feeder, did I get stung. Came home next day and have not seen a single bee since. Maintenance sprays. It says so in our lease. Right before the warning about the cancer causing agents in the spray they use around our home and flowers and water, pets etc. and even left the pump spray container 1/2 full full until I threw it in the trash. I can not believe how we continually rape our own planet by killing the very creatures who keep us alive.

42points

Laugh Fan 5 years ago

That made me feel so very sad.

12points

Load More Replies...

WillemPenn 5 years ago

I can't bring myself to upvote your comment because it just causes me cognitive dissonance ... like I feel like I am upvoting dead bees even though I'm not. But thank you for sharing. I hope your bees come back.

7points

Fish Boden 5 years ago

Heartbreaking. So many people take for granted the use of s****y chemicals in all areas of life. Pesticides, insecticides etc used indiscriminately. People like us and our friends like the bees are caught in the middle. Sorry about your bee buddies.

2points

Louise B 5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Louise B 5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Katinka Min 5 years ago

Well, by throwing a half full container if insecticides into regular trash you certainly did not make this problem any smaller.

0points

Mark Fuller 5 years ago

So, between the current rainforest wildfire that Brazil claims they "cannot financially afford to deal with" and now this, the country that plays home to "the lungs of the earth" is doing a sterling job of ensuring we all cease to exist in the not too distant future. I despair.

19points

Mewton’s Third Paw 5 years ago

And yet the United States government cries and weeps on and on and on for decades about “terrorism,” and how it’s a global threat, and we have to invade countries over it or the world will end because brown people MIGHT have nukes... but if the world literally burns down and all the insects die, that’s perfectly fine and we can let Brazil and anyone else destroy the actual planet as long as it isn’t because of Islam.

8points

Load More Replies...

Jo Bebe 5 years ago

Mewton you just went off the deep end, We are talking about the improper use of pesticides that have already been tested and PROVED to be carcinogenic (Cancer Causing to Humans) and PROVED to kill insects and bees, however Brazil has chosen to use it and other like it. What does this have to do with the US stepping in on foreign wars or terrorists>? Geez !!!

2points

Marcos Koyama 5 years ago

Just to mention the fipronil was introduced in USA in 1996, as per http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/fipronil.pdf and must be killing honey bees in USA since... In Brazil it was introduced either last year or beginning of this year, so you have 23 years killing advantages over us. As the problem was detected, diagnosed around here, I hope it will resolve the issue soon. I also hope it is a solved case in USA. Honey bees must survive everywhere.

1point

Chico Martins 5 years ago

Se NEVER called ourselves lungs of anything! ANYONE with 2 functional brain cells knows that the oxygen comes from de oceans, and the amazon forest recycles it’s own CO2.

1point

Pandastuck 5 years ago

yeah it's all "brazil"s fault whatever we will all hopefully die very soon anyway

0points

Marcos Koyama 5 years ago

To cure your despair you should try to separate facts from fake-news. There are huge amount of credible statistics that demonstrate Brazil is an example on environment conservation. You please go to you NASA and see there where the world is really burning this week. And please corrrect yourself Brazil doesn't claim to be the lungs of the world, Amazon produces only 6% of the oxygen. And go algo to official statistics demonstrating Brazil preserves 60%+ of its area with natural vegetation, compare this with your own country. Also go deeper to find that Brazil being the first or second biggest agricultural produces uses only 8% of its area for the purpose and compare with your own country. Please learn more about other countries before criticizing. And please notice as posted above that this regretable incident with the bees is localized and is being dealt with since the evidences of causes were identified. In future be more careful to educate yourself before judging.

0points

Marcos Koyama 5 years ago

As you can see from the statistics the problem is localized in the southern part of Brazil. Public Attorney from the state of Rio Grande do Sul has requested the suspension of the use of Fipronil in its foliar version that seems to be the cause of the bee deaths. Most possibly the product will be taken off the market.

12points

Kathy Baylis 5 years ago (edited)

Yeah, but where will they sell off their surplus? I doubt the manufacturer will take it back or recall it, so it’ll probably be sold to another country, and the problem won’t go away. I’m tired of living in an age of mass extinctions. (Yes, I know species go extinct all the time, and always have, but we’re at a point when critical species are becoming endangered, so this is frighteningly different.)

7points

Load More Replies...

Nora AlMeida 5 years ago

Hopefully they will do that

2points

Jose Pires 5 years ago

Suddenly Brasil has become the only country in the world which is killing bees. Also the most populated one, also the country which uses more oil and coal to produce its living. Come on guys. Don't use this lovely pages to spread news without checking the whole thing out, especially unhappy people with the government change. We are 210 million beings. China is 1,3 billion guys. US + 300 million, India + 900 million. And we are responsible for the bee killing? Oh please.

0points

Marcos Koyama 5 years ago

This leaflet describes fipronil, which was originally developed by Rhone-Poulenc by now belongs to BASF. It was accepted in 1996 in the USA and apparently in 2018/2019 in Brazil. It is indeed highly toxic to honey bees.http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/fipronil.pdf

0points

Load More Comments

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