{"id":14026,"date":"2014-09-10T00:01:44","date_gmt":"2014-09-10T04:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=14026"},"modified":"2014-09-10T13:02:24","modified_gmt":"2014-09-10T17:02:24","slug":"emory-university-to-ban-neonicotinoids-from-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2014\/09\/emory-university-to-ban-neonicotinoids-from-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"Emory University To Ban Neonicotinoids from Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides,<\/em> September 10, 2014) As bee and other pollinator populations continue to decline around the world, with clear evidence pointing to neonicotinoid pesticides as a prime cause, Emory University announced last week that it will be eliminating the use of this controversial class of chemicals from its campus, joining institutions and \u00a0communities like University of Vermont Law School<\/a>, Spokane<\/a> \u00a0(Washington), \u00a0Eugene<\/a> (Oregon), and Shorewood<\/a> (Minnesota).<\/p>\n

\"bee\"Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides that share a common mode of action that affects the central nervous system of insects, \u00a0affecting the organisms’ ability to function. These systemic pesticides, which move through the plant\u2019s vascular system and express themselves through pollen and nectar, include imidacloprid<\/a>, acetamiprid<\/a>, clothianidin<\/a>, dinotefuran<\/a>, nithiazine, thiacloprid<\/a> and thiamethoxam<\/a>. A continually growing body of science<\/a> has implicated neonicotinoids, which are applied to or incorporated into seeds for agricultural, ornamental and garden plants, as a key factor in recent global bee die-offs<\/a>. Beekeepers across the country reported losses of 40 to 90 percent of their bees last winter. The implications of this loss are staggering \u2014one in every three bites of food is reliant on bee pollination, and pollinators make possible \u00a0$20-30 billion of annual U.S. agricultural production.<\/p>\n

Last week, Emory University\u2019s Office of Sustainability Initiatives released a campus pollinator protection commitment based on the philosophy that \u201cprotecting pollinators will further Emory\u2019s sustainability vision to help restore the global ecosystem, foster healthy living, and reduce the university\u2019s impact on the local environment,\u201d says Ciannat Howett, director of the school\u2019s Office of Sustainability Initiatives. Ms. Howett also mentioned the critical role that pollinators play in ensuring a secure food supply as a major reason for taking action.<\/p>\n

The university is not just banning the use of neonicotinoids on campus. The school also plans to:<\/p>\n