They may sting, and they can cause death to some, but bees are an integral part of agriculture. Without them, we wouldn't have many of the foods we eat. But in recent years, they have been dying, it's thought due in part to the increased use of insecticides. Clothianidin, created by the major chemical company Bayer, is one of the insecticides responsible, along with a wider class of chemicals used to treat seeds before planting. RFI's Anne-Marie Bissada spoke to Gil Shochat, an investigative journalist and producer for Canada's Global television. He recently investigated Bayer's arguments downplaying the effects of its insecticide in North America and Europe. She asked him why bees are so important?
