I’ve stopped using glyphosate on our land a couple of years ago – and I think that Papatuanuku likes that I am not pouring poison on her anymore. I only sprayed paved surfaces and now my efforts at weed control are more labour intensive – but its worth it. I know when I harvest food from our land it has not been poisoned. And I know that I am not supporting the companies that make these poisons.
This post touches on three agrochemicals that we should not be using.
Glyphosate
Take glyphosate for example. According to this heavily referenced study published by the Green Party, it is probably carcinogenic, genotoxic, is a endocrine disruptor and neurotoxin – and much more. The Greens are asking that it is not used in parks where our children play. In this video Dr Seneff discusses some of the issues with glyphosate including autism.
Organophosphates
An extensive European Union study estimated the cost of organophosphate exposure due to reduced children’s IQ levels at 125 billion euros. This Harvard article identifies chlorpyrifos and glyphosate as neurotoxins, claiming they erode intelligence. Organophosphates are damaging to the brain and to the developing foetus.
Organophosphates, such as chlorpyrifos are used widely in New Zealand. Dr. Meriel Watts of Pesticide Action Group Aotearoa want chlorpyrifos reassessed here as it is bioaccumulative. Here is Dr Watts presenting on pesticides. Sadly the rate of pesticide use is still on the rise.
Neonicotinoids
If you plant corn seeds, they may have been treated with a neonicotinoid dressing (the pink stuff). If you watched Dr Watt’s presentation she explains the impact of these nasty chemicals on bees. A June 2017 New Scientist magazine article reports a mountain of evidence that neonicotinoids kill bees. A 2015 estimate of the values of bees to the global economy as 265 billion euros.
The value of ecosystem services (including pollination) is about the same total global GDP, but we erode the value of bees, soil biota and aquatic life with our continued use of poisons. We also create detrimental health impacts for people and communities. Why do we do it? Follow the money.
Aotearoa Food Policy Network 
King’s Seeds was contacted regarding their corn seeds and the pink coating.
Here is their reply.
Not its not a neonicitinoid insecticide, nothing in our range has this on it.
The pink coating is a fungicide which we are required to have on by MPI to stop undesirable fungi coming into the country.
It has a very low oral toxicity to insects and humans and breaks down in the soil with no residual effect.
Some commercial seed companies put an insecticide on their corn seed called Gaucho which is a neonicitinoid , we don’t.
However, Neonicitinoid put on seed is likely to have no effect on the bee population as it is applied to the seed in very tiny quantities, the seed coat splits and is discarded by the emerging seedling and breaks down very quickly in the soil .
What would affect the bees is if neonicitinoids are sprayed on to growing plants coming up to flowering .
The spray is systemic and would pass through to the flower heads and then it would affect bees.
Regards
Gerard Martin
Kings Seeds (NZ) Ltd
PO Box 283
Katikati 3166
New Zealand
Phone (07) 549 3409
Fax (07) 549 3408
http://www.kingsseeds.co.nz
email gerard@kingsseeds.co.nz
I feel reassured by this and will happily sow corn again this spring.
Best wishes,
Jill Nicholls
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