With “More than Honey”, the Swiss director Markus Imhoof (79) wrote Swiss film history. The film about global bee deaths, released in 2012, is the most successful Swiss documentary film. It shows the damage the use of pesticides causes to insects. Imhoof is vehemently committed to the pesticide and drinking water initiative. In an interview with Blick, he explains why, in his opinion, the initiatives are urgently needed.
Blick: Your film was released almost ten years ago. How busy are you still with the issue of bee deaths?
Markus Imhoof: That won’t let me go My daughter and son-in-law are both bee researchers. Two thirds of their bees have only just been poisoned by pesticides – a million bees! If these were cows, it would be in the whole world press. I don’t have the time to keep beekeeping myself. But I am committed to the Aurelia Foundation in Germany, which is committed to protecting bees.
How is the situation today?
It didn’t get any better. The varroa mite, which wipes out entire bee colonies, is still a major problem. But pesticides are just as dangerous. Many are unaware that the regulatory authorities only look into whether a pesticide kills bees. Other effects are not taken into account. Bee researchers were able to prove that bees under the influence of pesticides can no longer find their way home as if they are drunk, no longer communicate properly – and ultimately the whole hive dies as a result.
You are therefore in favor of the drinking water and pesticide initiative.
Yes. Because I don’t want my grandchildren to be poisoned! In Switzerland, drinking water sources have to be turned off because the pesticide residues are too high. Everyone can see that something is not good! What annoys me most is that the opponents argue that the initiative puts food security at stake. It is at stake if you say no! Without pollination by the bees, we would not have every third bite.
In your opinion, what is the reason why a majority of farmers are fighting against the initiatives?
Because they didn’t hear the shot! It is a mistake that the farmers feel attacked. I am for the farmers! I used to want to be a farmer myself and worked on a farm all my studies. I saw how agriculture has changed. Today it is in the grip of the agribusiness.
A ban on pesticides only in Switzerland cannot stop the death of bees.
That’s not an argument! If we don’t set an example in Switzerland – who should do it? We have to be a lighthouse and we can’t wait for the others to do their homework.
Three insecticides that are particularly dangerous for bees have been banned in the EU since 2018, and Switzerland followed suit in 2019. Isn’t that a sign that something is working?
They are banned because we fought for them for years! The chemical company Bayer has gone to the European Court of Justice so that it can continue to sell the dangerous insecticides. The lawsuit has just been thrown out. But in numerous countries there are special permits. In addition: The insect venom fipronil, for example, is still allowed as a veterinary medicinal product in Switzerland. People put it on their dogs’ backs to protect against fleas and ticks – and then the animals are petted by the children!
In Switzerland, too, sugar beet producers are required to obtain an exemption. Several proposals are pending in parliament.
The cause of the pesticide problem are our monocultures, which nature does not actually provide. They are a land of milk and honey for pests! In order for them to be even more profitable, one accepts that nature and, as a result, people will be damaged. This can not be. We can no longer lie to ourselves about the situation! We have to work with nature. There are successful ways to do it without poison.
But hand on heart: Your idea of agriculture is utopian!
This may be. But if you don’t have a utopia, you don’t know in which direction to go.
Markus Imhoof (79) is a director and screenwriter. He has received numerous national and international awards for his films, most recently in 2020 he was awarded the honorary award of the Swiss Film Academy for his life’s work. His interest in bees was sparked by his grandfather, who kept beekeeping. Imhoof grew up in Winterthur ZH and now lives in Berlin.
Peter Mosimann
Franziska Herren is the brain behind the drinking water initiative.
With the drinking water and pesticide initiatives, Switzerland will vote on two proposals on June 13th, which are thematically very similar.
Fitness trainer Franziska Herren (54) is behind the drinking water initiative. Among other things, she wants only those farmers who do not use pesticides to receive direct payments. Farmers are only allowed to keep as many animals as they can feed with feed that is produced on their own farm.
The pesticide initiative, which was submitted by a citizens’ committee from western Switzerland, is even more extreme and wants a complete ban on synthetic pesticides – not just for agriculture. It should also no longer be allowed to import goods in the manufacture of which pesticides were used.
The Federal Council and Parliament reject both initiatives.