A French researcher was in Toronto this week to talk about neonic pesticides.
Jean-Marc Bonmatin is chair of the international Task Force on Systemic Pesticides.
The task force review of more than 1 thousand studies on the issue was published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research earlier this year.
According to Bonmatin, those studies included those sponsored by industry.
The review concluded there is clear evidence neonic pesticides harm a large number of non-target organisms - including bees and other pollinators.
Bonmatin argues there is an urgent need to reduce the quantities of those pesticides entering the environment.
He was joined in his discussion of the review's findings by representatives of a number of provincial and national groups, including Sustain Ontario, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Ontario Beekeepers Association.
