46 Organizations Demand Conagra End Use of Bee-Killing Pesticides on Popcorn
Today 46 consumer, health, and environmental organizations sent a letter calling on Conagra Brands (NYSE: CAG) to take immediate steps to end the use of neonicotinoid-coated seeds in its popcorn supply chain. Conagra owns multiple household popcorn brands including Orville Redenbacher’s, Act II, and Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP.
Neonicotinoids are among the most ecologically disastrous pesticides since DDT. U.S. agriculture has become nearly 48 times more toxic to insects, including essential pollinators like bees, since the introduction of neonicotinoids. The EPA asserts that continued use will likely push more than 200 threatened and endangered species toward extinction.
The largest use of neonicotinoids in the U.S. is as coatings on corn and soy seeds. However, studies increasingly show that neonic-coated seeds provide little to no yield or economic benefits to farmers, on average, and in some cases may even decrease yield by killing beneficial insects like pollinators and pest predators.
In the letter, the groups emphasize that the harms to biodiversity caused by neonic-coated seeds present a material risk for Conagra and other corporations in the food sector. Food costs are predicted to rise as managed and wild pollinator populations decrease, and research indicates that pollinator loss has already resulted in decreased production of certain crops. Thirteen of the largest U.S. food retailers, including Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, and Giant Eagle, have established pollinator health policies aimed at reducing the use of neonicotinoids and other harmful pesticides in their food supply chains.
“Pollinator declines are the canary in the coalmine for a broader biodiversity collapse that poses a dire threat to planetary health and our food supply,” said Kendra Klein, PhD, deputy director of science at Friends of the Earth. “It’s past time for U.S. food manufacturers like Conagra to eliminate the use of toxic pesticides in their supply chains and take swift action to ensure that we can feed ourselves and future generations.”
Neonicotinoids also pose risks to the health of people. Neonicotinoids have been linked to birth defects of the heart and brain and damage to the nervous system. The letter points out that organic farming is a safer alternative, as organic certification prohibits over 900 synthetic pesticides otherwise allowed in agriculture, including neonicotinoids. Research has shown that eating an organic diet can reduce pesticide exposure up to 95% in just one week.
“If Conagra is truly committed to protecting biodiversity and human health, phasing out neonic-coated seeds in popcorn is just a first step,” said Sarah Starman, senior food & agriculture campaigner with Friends of the Earth. “We hope to see a broader effort to transition away from pesticides and advance safer methods of farming like organic agriculture across the entire supply chain.”
A growing body of science also highlights organic farming’s ability to regenerate soil, conserve water, enhance farmers’ resilience to droughts and floods, protect biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making it a critical approach to addressing climate change.