Press release Koppert biological Systems, in its history, has produced many beneficial insectsthat have reduced dependence on chemical pesticides in the production of various crops. The company also provides bumblebees, which are used as valuable pollinators for greenhouse tomatoes and more recently also for outdoor crops. Bumblebees, for our customers, have always been produced in the USA. In our Michigan facility, Koppert raises the native bumblebee Bombus impatiens to meet the needs of growers throughout the country. Concerns regarding bumblebee health have been raised in recent years and a hypothesis has been proposed that links commercial bumblebee use to the decline of wild bumblebees. The basis of the proposed hypothesis is that the intercontinental movement of bumblebees has caused the contamination of bumblebees used commercially in North America by diseases present in bumblebees species produced for European markets. This hypothesis hinges on three prerequisites; first, intercontinental movement of bumblebees destined for US growers, second, the presence of non-native strains of Nosema bombi, Chritidia bombi and other diseases in these imported bees and third that such diseases are the cause of the dramatic decline of wild bumblebee populations. Koppert Biological Systems states categorically that it has never commercialized, brought to market or released any bumblebees that have been in contact with European bumblebees. Koppert pioneered the development and implementation of Pasteur s technique of pure culture isolation, for eliminating diseases from commercial bumblebee production. Additionally, the quality assurance system for our US production facility consists of a 3 tiered approach consisting of quality audits on a daily basis by our own staff, plus biweekly government inspection and biannual verification of test results by a Michigan State University entomologist. Koppert sBombus impatiens production is inspected by Michigan State Department of Agriculture, which certifies the bees as disease free for export purposes. For certification the production of the bees is audited and its results reflect the state of the entire production both those hives destined for export as well as those that are moved interstate. Koppert Biological Systems states that the commercial rearing of bumblebees is done in a safe and controlled manner allowing growers the ability to pollinate their crops. Koppert Biological Systems is concerned about the decline of native bumblebee species, an issue that coincides with a worldwide reduction in many different types of pollinators. Many different species of bees, butterflies, beetles and flies all suffer from the impact of global climate change, the widespread use of non-selective agrochemicals, the loss of their natural habitat and other factors. As a company we are committed to our responsibility to protect the environment. It is our business to do so. If further regulation is deemed the best means to safeguard bumblebee health that Koppert is happy to continue to comply and help in any way possible to make implementation a success. http://www.koppertonline.com/ *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Access BEE-L directly at: http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L