At the conclusion of a 17 year field report, scientists have found that there has been a 30% reduction in wild bee population and oil seed rape farming may be one of the main contributors to the decline.

Oil seed rape crops are used for vegetable oils and animal fodder and must be intensively managed to maintain high yields. In order to maximise profits farmers do this is through the use of pesticides, but a particular type of pesticide called neonicotinoids has been found to have a link to the decline in bees.

There are certain species of wild bee that regularly forage on oil seed rape crops because they are such a good source of pollen. Whilst the actual cause and effect has not been discovered, of the 62 species monitored, those that foraged oil seed rape that was treated with neonicotinoids where found to be in decline by 10%.

Neonicotinoids have been under close scrutiny by the EU and were temporarily banned in 2013 but this was eventually overturned by the National Farmers Union (NFU) much to the dismay of Green campaigners. The way that the plants are treated involves the cost effective method of spraying at seed to ensure the plant grows with the pesticide penetrating the tissue and not just the surface of the plant.

Whilst climate change is also a contributing factor to the decline in bee population Green campaigners are partiularly worried about the effect of Brexit on the regulation of these pesticides. Based on the strong evidence in the report, campaigners are urging ministers to seriously consider the effect that neonicotinoid pesticides will have on the bee population in the future.

The decline in bees has been a buzzworthy story in recent years, along with a perceived decline in British wildlife. Fake grass has had some flak from certain corners as the cause of these kinds of issues, along with (but to a lesser extent) paving, patio and decking installations. In reality, fake grass installations account for a tiny fraction of land used in the UK compared to intensive commercial farming so this is an interesting step to better understanding how different sectors contribute to the overall wildlife ecosystems of the country.

Sources: BBC, Guardian