By now, you’ve likely heard about “the study.” It’s the one by environmental scientist Francisco Sanchez-Bayo and entomologist Kris Wyckhuys concluding that an insect apocalypse is underway.
They are right to raise the alarm — we need to know this — but the rush to judgment by some about what must be done is superficial.
The peer-reviewed study, published in the respected journal Biological Conservation, reviewed 73 scientific papers that shows a dramatic decline in the worldwide insect population. The main culprits, it concludes, are intensive agriculture (habitat loss and pesticides) and climate change.
Read Also
Proactive approach best bet with looming catastrophes
The Pan-Canadian Action Plan on African swine fever has been developed to avoid the worst case scenario — a total loss ofmarket access.
So far, most observers are not taking issue with the notion of a declining insect population, but not everyone agrees that agriculture is as responsible for it as the report argues.
The report received worldwide exposure, resulting, for instance, in an editorial in the British newspaper The Guardian concluding that “the chief driver of this catastrophe is unchecked human greed,” and that “the two main expressions of greed that hasten this apocalypse are global warming and industrial agriculture.”
The editorial goes onto say that “the use of giant fields, devoid of shelter for insects of any sort at all … where the plants are drenched in long-lasting pesticides, has been fatal for uncounted billions of insects.”
It concludes that humans should consume less and eat more organics.
Hang on a second. Farming isn’t about greed, it’s about families making a living — competing in a global marketplace — using the best available research and technologies.
Farmers use pesticides to ensure their plants survive the growing season. If they cannot make money, they will not grow the crops. And the world needs them to grow crops.
As well, organics will not produce the quantities of food necessary to feed the world. And zero-till would be out the window, resulting in enormous quantities of carbon released into the atmosphere, instead of farms acting like a carbon sink.
What’s needed is research into genetics that will allow plants to resist or repel insects, reducing the need for pesticides.
There may also be room to encourage practices such as cover crops or multi-cropping, provided the ensuing increase in insects does not destroy the plants.
This issue will require more profound thinking than blame.
