Save bees and farmers

Brussels. The German branch of the European Citizens' Initiative has almost 420.000 signatures "Save Bees and Farmers“, (Save bees and farmers) so far (as of December 20.12.2020, 500.000). It should be at least XNUMX.

The goal: Less arable toxins and more bees in Europe's fields. In the “Green Deal”, the European Commission set the goal of halving the amount of pesticides in Europe's fields. But the chemical industry, among other things, earns a lot of money from spraying agents. Your representatives want to water down the requirement and have it completely deleted. The citizens' initiative is opposed to this. You can find an option article about the Austrian branch here.

Less agricultural toxins, healthier food, more climate protection

Background: Less arable toxins would not only be good for nature, but also for most farmers. According to Save Bees and Farmers, a farm in Europe has had to give up every three minutes for the past ten years.

Low and further falling prices are forcing farmers to get more and more out of the soil. The farms go into debt to buy large, expensive machines. Otherwise they have no chance of holding their own against the big agricultural companies. In order to pay off the debts, the farms have to produce more and more in the same area. The high yields then put pressure on producer prices again. A vicious circle.

If you can't keep up, you have to give up. The remaining farms cultivate ever larger areas - mostly with large monocultures. The heavy machines they use there compact the soil. Soil fertility declines, erosion increases, so that you have to apply more and more chemicals in order to harvest the same amount as in the previous year.

A quarter of the greenhouse gases that cause the climate crisis come from food production. "A dramatically changing world climate and the unprecedented decline in biodiversity on our planet threaten the world's food supply and ultimately the continued existence of humanity," writes Save Bees and Farmers on his Website and refers, among other things, to the 2019 Report on biodiversity by the World Food Organization FAO.

The only chance for agriculture and for the preservation of a habitable planet: We have to produce our food in a more climate-friendly way and with less toxic chemicals.

Agriculture Minister wants to allow “bee killers” again

And what is Germany's Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner doing? She has the ban on neonicotinoids lifted, even though the agents kill bees. You can find more information and a petition for the continuation of the ban here.

What else can you do now?

- The petition from the European citizens' initiative Save Bees and Farmers now here the unterschreib

- Buy organic products from your region if possible

- Eat as little meat as possible

- If you have a garden or balcony: sow bee-friendly plants and set up an “insect hotel”