A recent article published in the leading scientific journal, Science, features the expert opinion of PoshBee researchers on the new European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) honey bee pesticide risk assessment.

Article "Holistic environmental risk assessment for bees".

The authors of the article, all of whom are researchers in PoshBee, point out that such a strategy has been long awaited and it is celebrated. They outline the strategy's advantage compared to current assessments as it uses a systems approach, taking into account multiple stressors and sub-lethal effects.

However, they point out that the initial focus on honey bees (apis mellifera) alone, which is taken within the new EFSA risk assessment strategy, is not enough to protect the majority of pollinators, nor will it help substantively address the plight of biodiversity. The researchers strongly recommend that EFSA should augment the approach to include more relevant species within the assessment, including solitary bees and bumblebees.

Read the full article here.