Save the Bees: Is Pesticide Regulation Actually Driven By Consumer Concern?

Part of the Research Showcase series.

Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides that severely harm bees, attacking their central nervous systems. In over a decade of talking to farmers about pesticide regulation, I've often heard the same refrain: It's the consumers, aka the public, demanding limitations on pesticide use. In a recent project on neonicotinoid insecticide used in potatoes, it's the same story. Potato growers are convinced that consumers are behind mounting public and private bans. The real drivers, though, may be more complex. What do consumers know about neonicotinoids? Are they seriously contacting Walmart to demand their regulation? And if not, what's actually going on?

Dr. Katherine Dentzman is a rural sociologist and Assistant Professor at Iowa State University, specializing in the human dimensions of pesticide management and ecological food systems. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Science and Sociology from Central Michigan University and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Michigan State University. Her career includes USDA-funded postdoctoral roles at Washington State University and the University of Idaho, as well as a position with the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. At Iowa State, she leads and collaborates on transdisciplinary research projects addressing neonicotinoid regulations, mesotunnel adoption, water quality perceptions, conservation drainage, and weed management technologies. Her expertise in community-based resource management has made her a valued contributor to national and international research and policy initiatives.

This lecture recording can be found on the Available Recordings page approximately two business days after the event and will remain accessible for three weeks.