Bee Scientist Says He Was Punished For Negative Report On Neonicotinoids

Jonathan Lundgren, an entomologist with USDA has filed a whistleblowing complaint following a study he published on neonicotinoids. (Photo credit: Dan Gunderson, MPR News file)

Jonathan Lundgren, an entomologist with USDA has filed a whistleblowing complaint following a study he published on neonicotinoids. (Photo credit: Dan Gunderson, MPR News file)

Minnesota National Public Radio recently reported on a whistleblower complaint filed by USDA entomologist of USDA’s Brookings, S.D., Agriculture Research facility.

Lundgren published a study which linked neonicotinoid insecticides with stunted growth or death of monarch butterfly larvae. Monarch populations have plummeted in recent years because of habitat loss. Lundgren’s research showed milkweed plants growing near farm fields treated with the insecticide could harm monarch larvae.

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Lundgren’s complaint, which is being represented by the Washington, D.C.-based group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), claims that when Lundgren began to study how neonicotinoid insecticides affect bees and other beneficial insects, his research and work travel began falling under intense scrutiny, which later led to Lundgren being suspended for violating agency protocols.

Jeff Ruch, executive director of PEER, argues that pressure from the pesticide industry has led USDA to stifle scientists like Lundgren. He had no evidence, but said the complaint will let attorneys seek information and interview USDA officials about the Lundgren case. He believes that work will prove USDA targeted Lundgren because of his neonicotinoid research.

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According to the Minnesota National Public Radio report, a USDA spokesperson said that while the agency can’t discuss individual cases, it takes scientific integrity seriously.

“We fully review allegations of wrong-doing and make the results of those reviews available to the public online.” USDA, he added, has “procedures for staff to report any perceived interference with their work, seek resolution, and receive protection from recourse for doing so.”

 

 

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Avatar for Dahlimama Dahlimama says:

perhaps it is just because the government is always under scrutiny as to how tax payer money is spent and using funds to to do a study not requested by your employer would be frowned upon by any company. I myself can’t decide what I will do while employed by my company unless it is something they sanction. If I want to investigate something not on their schedule, I would have to pay for it myself and do it on my personal time. Perhaps the Washington, D.C.-based group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility could fund the research and he could invest his own time to study the hypothesis.

Avatar for douglas douglas says:

perhaps, but unlikely. investigating why the canary has keeled over in the coal mine is not going off on a lark. [sorry] he is an entomologist studying the effects of neonics on bees and other beneficial insects after all. why assume he was vectoring off?

Avatar for charles obern charles obern says:

I didn’t know that the Monarch Butterfly was a beneficial insect!! I read he was assigned to study the affects of Neonicotinoids on the honey bee which is a beneficial insect so obviously he would be scruntinized/punished for working on butterfly.

Avatar for Darwin Darwin says:

All butterflys help in pollinating crops, just as honeybees or any other bee does only perhaps not as efficiently.
EX beekeper

Avatar for Edith Pettis Edith Pettis says:

Hey, God bless those who tell us the truth. What moron does not recognize the monarch butterfly is a beneficial insect? Why are growers always ready to trash science, placing their robotic acceptance of Rush Limbaugh above what should be obvious? That industry gets away with deciding which facts are helpful and what should be suppressed to benefit their bottom line is disgusting. Used to be we valued science and government effort as agents who would protect us against those with no conscience.

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