These neonicotinoid pesticides are very controversial stuff…many believe (like Harvard School of Public Health) they are one of the chief culprits in the global insect die-offs, especially Colony Collapse Disorder.
Alternatives do exist. As a matter of fact, there are always alternatives, but not all farmers are willing to use them and, most importantly, sometimes not everyone can use them. It is very important, however, to try to minimize the use of chemicals even in these cases. Before treating crops with chemicals, we should try to protect our crops from pests or pathogens by increasing biodiversity, which can be done by planting hedges, borders, and thickets around the fields, and rotating crops. In addition, we must monitor harmful organisms and calculate the extent to which they can be tolerated. If infestation is so bad that it requires intervention, we should evaluate whether there are any agronomic, mechanical, or biological ways to solve the problem.
