New bee-friendly report includes research, efforts of floriculture industry

Dave Smitley was a reviewer for the recently released report "Growing Bee-Friendly Garden Plants: Profiles In Innovation" published by Friends of the Earth and the Pesticide Research Institute.

Dave Smitley was a reviewer for the recently released report “Growing Bee-Friendly Garden Plants: Profiles In Innovation” published by Friends of the Earth and the Pesticide Research Institute. On their website, Friends of the Earth describes the publication as providing “…examples of wholesale nurseries, retailers and institutions that are responding to consumer demand to protect bees. Nurseries across the nation, large and small, are taking a proactive, precautionary stance on neonicotinoid use. The people interviewed for the report are successfully phasing out use of pollinator-toxic pesticides from their operations, implementing innovative new pest management approaches to avoid regrettable substitutions, and moving toward practices that are healthy for bees and the environment. The report provides strategies and resources for other businesses to follow the lead of these industry leaders.”

Dave worked closely with the authors to share with them how difficult it is for greenhouse and nursery growers to produce high quality plants free of pests that also do not have pesticide residues toxic to bees. Greenhouse and nursery growers have funded research and made significant changes in their production practices to address pollinator health concerns. As one of the researchers involved, Dave notes, “This could not have been done without the support of Michigan Floricultural Growers Council, the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association, the Horticultural Research Institute and Project GREEEN.”

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