A Brazilian agricultural entrepreneur has received a fine of more than EUR 40,000 after more than 100 million bees died due to an illicit application of a controversial pesticide.
Investigations carried out by experts from the Agricultural and Forestry Defense Institute in the state of Mato Grosso showed that more than 600 beehives were exposed to lethal doses of fipronil.
Due to its harmful effect on insects, the use of fipronil on crops is forbidden in the entire European Union. However, the substance is a very popular pest management and insect control agent in many parts of the world.
In the incident in west-central Brazil, the chemical agent was reportedly applied aerially. This kind of usage has been forbidden by the local agricultural institutions.
The owner of the farm – who has not been identified by the authorities – was fined BRL 225,000 (EUR 41,500, GBP 35,700) for the aerial application of fipronil on crops in Sorriso, Sinop and Ipiranga do Norte.
Agronomist Rodrigo Vicenzi said the farmer had registered the product for being applied to soybeans in another location.
Human ingestion of fipronil can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Newspapers in Mato Grosso report that the latest incident significantly diminished the number of hives local beekeepers were maintaining.
Prof Marliton Rocha Barreto from the Federal University of Mato Grosso warned such actions would accelerate the reduction of bee populations.
The entomologist explained: “We are dealing with pollinators that play a primordial role regarding our food.”
Prof Barreto emphasised that the eradication of rare native species would have a devastating impact on biodiversity.
