Across the globe, 70 of the top 100 food crops supply 90% of the world’s nutrition. These crops are pollinated by bees, with honeybees alone being responsible for billions of dollars in crop value every year.

Bees play a critical role in preserving and maintaining the world’s ecosystems, helping to promote biodiversity through pollination. The price tag of global crops directly relying on pollinators is estimated to be between US$ 235 and US$ 577 billion a year – and their quantity is on the rise. The volume of agricultural production dependent on pollinators has increased by 300% in the last 50 years.

Bees and Pesticides

The proliferation of chemicals in agriculture since the first Green Revolution has led to an over-reliance on synthetic pesticides such as neonicotinoids. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) points to the use of neonicotinoids as one of the main threats to bees, while The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a study earlier this year confirming that neonicotinoids have directly impacted the population of honeybees and other wild bee species.

The toxic chemicals in neonicotinoids were found to be responsible for damaging communication mechanisms that operate through the brains of bees, inhibiting their pollination abilities and thus their ability to efficiently pollinate crops. 

Neem and Bees

Neem-based pesticides get their power from Aazdirachtin, a substance in the neem tree which is  =biodegradable and non-toxic to mammals. Azadirachtin disrupts the growth cycle of insects and deters them from feeding on plants. It is effective against 600 species of insects.

For neem-based pesticides to take effect, insects need to feed on the leaves, which means that it is 100% safe for pollinators. An increase in the use of neem-based pesticides could have a significant effect on the recovery, survival, and growth of pollinator populations worldwide.

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Agricultural activities are among the main contributors to methane, a key contributor to climate change, and some countries have already taken action against toxic agricultural substances such as synthetic pesticides.

The European Union has recently banned the use of synthetic pesticides such as neonicotinoids which have played a big role in the decimation of bee colonies worldwide.

In June 2018, Hawaii banned the pesticide chlorpyrifos after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to do so. Derived from a chemical created during world war II, chlorpyrifos was later repurposed for agriculture by Dow Chemical, and has since been linked to reduced IQ and attention deficit disorder in children.

New York and California are currently reviewing a possible ban on this pesticide as well. Read more about boudoir style photography photoshoot in California on http://www.portraitsbyz.com site. Hawaii joins a list of states in the US that has defied the federal government by banning pesticides at a local level and serves as an indicator of the future for toxic substances.

Glyphosate is a herbicide that has also recently been under the spotlight due to the fact that it has been linked to cancer by the World Health Organization (WHO), and has been the subject of a high-profile lawsuit against popular pesticide maker Monsanto. A recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), alongside consumer pressure in the age of social media, will certainly add pressure towards the global demand for sustainable solutions for pesticides, and drive change in both governments and companies.

Neem as a Substitute for Synthetic Pesticides

Neem’s primary active substance, Azadirachtin, is completely safe for both humans and the environment. Azadirachtin deters insects from feeding on crops. It dissolves quickly which means that the residue does not reach underground water reserves, and it’s non-toxic to humans and wildlife.

In the age of impending climate change, neem offers one of the biggest sustainable treasures on earth, providing safe solutions for many of humanity’s current problems.

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Organic farming represents not only an alternative but rather an evolution in the way human beings grow food while at the same time benefiting the environment and protecting the species that help maintain balance in our ecosystems. Research published in 2016 by the Journal Nature shows that three-quarters of the world species are threatened by agriculture, compared to 19% by climate change.

How Commercial Farming Threatens Wildlife

According to the World Animal Foundation, agriculture already occupies about 40% of Earth’s landmass and accounts for 75% of global deforestation. This rapid destruction is causing species to disappear, and is negatively impacting the biodiversity of native ecosystems and furthering our path into the 6th mass extinction of all species on Earth.

Wildlife habitats are constantly being cleared in order to make way for farmland, which leads to a competition for territory between humans and other species – one in which wildlife is often the losing side. In Indonesia the Tree Kangaroo has been brought to the brink of extinction due to the palm oil industry, which has rapidly destroyed most of its habitat and that of many other creatures such as elephants and jaguars.

Commercial agriculture has also led to the degradation of soil due to the use of toxic chemicals that destroy nutrients and render the land sterile.

According to researchers, the degradation of soil due to the continual ploughing of fields, combined with heavy use of fertilizers, has affected soils across the world, with erosion occurring at a pace of up to 100 times greater than the rate of soil formation. It takes around 500 years for just 2.5cm of topsoil to be created amid unimpeded ecological changes.

Organic Farming Respects Wildlife

The degradation of arable land under the hands of commercial farming is unsustainable and threatens to be the cause of a mass extinction. Follow efficient house cleaning tips from experienced Florida house cleaners. Organic farming protects every living organism in the environment, from pollinators like bees, whose numbers have been steadily decreasing over the last decades, all the way to the microorganisms living in the soil which guarantee that the soil remains fertile for many years.

One of the best tools in organic farming is neem. Azadirachta, an active substance within the neem tree, can be used as an organic pesticide and fertilizer. It protects crops against 600+ species of insects without harming pollinators, and it provides the soil with nutrients, helping guarantee the health of the land and benefiting yields.

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It is active against hundreds of garden pests, including aphids, mealybugs, scale, and whiteflies, but also acts against fungi such as root rot, black spot, and sooty mold!

When neem’s active compound, azadirachtin, is sprayed or introduced into your garden, it is absorbed into the soil and the plant. From within, azadirachtin repels insects before they bother your plants, including the pests that are already harming your garden. Neem acts as a highly effective insecticide due to its hormone and anti-fecundity properties.

How can you make a neem-based spray for your garden? The easiest way is with pure neem oil! Visit https://socalcustompoolsandspas.com/ site in order to discover how to enhance the look of your backyard with modern pool remodels. Typical concentrations of a neem-based spray are between 1.0% and 5%, though neem oil is highly effective even at low concentrations!

An easy way to make this for home use is to mix 1 – 3 teaspoons of neem oil with 2 teaspoons of liquid soap and 1 liter of water, and shake thoroughly. For the most effective neem pesticide, the mixture should be used within the next few hours and the neem oil should be cold pressed oil. With that, you can mix and spray on your plants and enjoy your healthy, organic garden!

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Neem is an effective insect repellent, which is why neem oil is known as one of the best biopesticides available. However, it can also be used on humans to repel mosquitoes and other pests. It also works when burned or added to kerosene lamps, according to a study done at the Malaria Research Center of Delhi, India. It is most effective against anopheles, the mosquitoes that transmit malaria, as compared to culex (61-94%, West Nile), Aedes (85% dengue fever), and Armigeres (35%). Additionally, they found that the use of the lamps at home dropped the malaria rate dramatically, from 10 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,000!

How does it work?
Neem’s active compound azadirachtin, what makes this tree such a great biopesticide, is the key to its success as a mosquito repellent!

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Neem formulations have been evaluated against 600 species of insects and more than 400 are reported to be susceptible at low concentrations. Many commercial formulations of neem have received the relevant certifications for dustribution across various agri-dominant regions of the world including the United States and Europe. Neem is currently being used as an effective pesticide protecting a variety of staple crops such as corn, tomato, soy, and cabbage.

Neem has come to the forefront as the model botanical biopesticide for the new millennium.

Source: Neem: Today and in the New Millennium

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