John,

Bees are responsible for one of every four bites of food we take.1

Despite how important bees are to our food supply, we're drenching agricultural fields in bee-killing pesticides and threatening our vital pollinators in the process.

When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviews pesticides, it should consider the impact to bees and other pollinators.

Tell the EPA: Protect bees from deadly pesticides.

Right now, the EPA is considering a strategy to protect endangered species -- including bees -- from pesticides, and the agency is accepting public comments until Sept. 23.

A class of pesticides called neonicotinoids (neonics) kills bees. Neonics directly attack bees' central nervous systems, causing overstimulation, paralysis and death.2

A quarter of North American bumblebees are at risk of extinction, and pesticides are a major factor in their decline.3

Losing these natural pollinators could impact many of the foods we love.

Bumblebees are the only bee that can use buzz pollination to shake the pollen free from tomatoes, eggplants and peppers.4

Wild bee species can even help improve crop yields alongside commercial honeybees.5

The EPA has long overlooked threats to endangered bees when it reviews pesticides. Urge the EPA to keep pesticides from killing vital pollinators.

Using so many chemicals has made our fields increasingly toxic to bees. An estimated 34 million pounds of insecticides are used in agriculture every year.6

The very bees we rely on to pollinate our food are being poisoned by the crops they're pollinating. It's a vicious cycle, and we're calling on the EPA to protect endangered bees and restrict the use of bee-killing pesticides.

The EPA's analysis of pesticides hasn't adequately taken into account the threat to pollinators, and the impact that could have on our food system. Add your name before the Sept. 23 deadline.

Thank you,

Faye Park
President

1. "The Buzz on Native Bees," U.S. Geological Survey, last accessed September 10, 2024.
2. Stephen Leahy, "Insect 'apocalypse' in U.S. driven by 50x increase in toxic pesticides," National Geographic, August 6, 2019.
3. Alex Fox, "These Cute, Fuzzy Bumblebees Are Precision-Engineered Pollinators," Smithsonian Magazine, last accessed September 10, 2024.
4. Benji Jones, "Honey bees are not in peril. These bees are.," Vox, January 19, 2023.
5. Benji Jones, "Honey bees are not in peril. These bees are.," Vox, January 19, 2023.
6. "EPA Releases Draft Strategy to Better Protect Endangered Species from Insecticides," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, July 25, 2024.

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