As an agronomist with 33 years of experience and a passion for gardening, I understand the value of sharing knowledge with others. That’s why I want to offer some insight into our experience with neonicotinoid pesticides in Québec, as Governor Kathy Hochul considers the Birds and Bees Protection Act in New York.
In 2019, Québec implemented restrictions on the use of neonic pesticides to protect pollinators and the environment. Similar to the proposed New York bill, these restrictions focused on neonic coatings applied to corn and soybean seeds, which are among the largest users of neonics in our province. The regulations required farmers to obtain a written recommendation from a registered agronomist before using these seed coatings.
At the time, there was significant opposition from the chemical industry, claiming that the restrictions would harm the grain sector. However, we had extensive research showing that these seed coatings provided no economic benefit to farmers. So, what actually happened?
Both a lot and not very much.
Seed suppliers in Québec quickly reacted to the new rules, and by 2019, most seeds no longer carried any neonics. In just a few years, the use of neonics on corn seeds dropped from nearly all seeds in 2015 to less than 0.5% today. The use of neonics in soybeans has been completely eliminated. As a result, we have seen a significant decrease in neonic contamination in surface waters.
Interestingly, we did not witness any negative impacts on crop yields or failures due to the 2019 restrictions. This fact has been confirmed by monitoring at over 1,000 sites. The lack of dispute or discussion on this topic among the press and field crop advisers further supports these findings.
In addition, the concerns about farmers switching to more harmful pesticides or practices have proven unfounded. While some farmers did switch to corn and soybean seeds treated with safer insecticides, an increasing number of farmers have chosen to abandon insecticide treatments altogether. The research and our experience show that neither neonics nor the alternative insecticides provide economic benefits for farmers and are unnecessary.
I feel compelled to share this information, even though it may be controversial. My commitment to scientific integrity, despite facing backlash as a whistleblower, fuels my desire to educate others. I was fired in 2019 for exposing industry suppression of research on the uselessness of neonics, but an official inquiry led to my reinstatement.
Although I am now retired, my experience as a whistleblower has strengthened my belief in scientific integrity. I urge Governor Hochul to recognize the parallels between New York and Québec and listen to the scientific evidence. Preliminary findings in New York indicate that neonics are just as ineffective and that regenerative practices, such as cover cropping, can actually reduce pest damage.
The lesson we learned from Québec is clear: phasing out neonic-treated seeds protects the environment without compromising agricultural productivity. With neonic restrictions in place, farmers will adapt, output will thrive, and ecosystems will be safer.
Louis Robert is an agronomist and grain crops specialist who worked for 33 years at the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), the provincial Department of Agriculture in Québec, Canada.
