The State Duma has adopted a bill on reducing the notification period for beekeepers regarding the use of pesticides. The new law allows for immediate treatment of land plots with pesticides, provided that the population and beekeepers are informed no later than 24 hours before treatment. If the law is passed, it will come into effect on March 1, 2025.
According to the current beekeeping law of the Russian Federation, beekeepers must be notified of pesticide use 10 days before application. However, there is no provision for updating information on the expected treatment date.
In some cases, farmers are forced to conduct urgent treatment of land plots to prevent negative consequences or to postpone treatment due to changing weather conditions.
The company "Micopro," a resident of the Siberian Biological Science and Education Center (Sibbiocenter), has developed a new biological insecticide that protects rapeseed and other oilseed crops from harmful insects and poses no threat to bees. The company's director, Anna Mishina, announced plans to start production of this product within 2025.
Rapeseed is vulnerable to pests, as young plants of this crop are susceptible to insect attacks after wintering. Due to the lack of plant tissue, a pest can devour all vegetation in just half a day.
The bioinsecticide based on bacteria was developed to combat pests and does not harm bees. The company "Micopro" conducted research and identified the effectiveness of the product against cabbage moth and cotton bollworm. The bioinsecticide will be stable and resistant to being washed away by precipitation, and can be applied by spraying. The Ministry of Science of the Novosibirsk region noted that the biopesticide will help prevent excessive chemical impact on the soil and preserve its fertility.
The company's CEO, Anna Mishina, emphasized that the bioinsecticide is safe for both humans and bees. It can be used near residential areas, which is an important factor for agricultural producers.