Three years ago, in the Christoph Koch's apiary in Oppenau, Germany, plant protection chemicals used in the neighbouring fields caused the death of over 200 bee families and almost 11.5 thousands bee families in the whole country.

Christoph Koch is a renowned German beekeeper who actively fights for removing from the market plant protection chemicals, highly toxic substances killing bees and other insects. In February 2011, he visited with his friends from Baden-Wurtember Polish apiaries and Beekeeping Technical School in Pszczela Wola. They also, while staying in Malopolska, accepted the invitation of Janusz Kasztelewicz to visit "Sadecki Bartnik".

German beekeepers spent long hours discussing with Janusz Kasztelewicz and Tadeusz Kasztelan the destructive effects of Neonicotinoids application, in particular Clothianidin and Imidacloprid, in plant protection.

"It was not only a staggering shock to my very existence as I make a living from beekeeping, but it was also a serious blow that cut deep into my heart" - says Koch.

He decided to act and oppose the gigantic concerns producing pesticides. He bacame a shareholder of Bayer company.

"I am not the only shareholder objecting to the strategy of the company. Bayer has many problems, including investments, carbon dioxide trade and some pharmacological substances. Bees are only a part of the problem. Nonetheless, Bayer is a company that does a lot of good, aspirin and other medicines for example. That is why, it is worth being a shareholder of the company. By means of questions that sometimes makes the board uncomfortable, I make the shareholders aware that by producing toxic plant protection chemicals the company's image - so meticulously built on producing medicine throughout the years - is being destroyed. Medicaments are an essential production department in the company, a department that seems to be especially sensitive to the market. It is the department that can bring a lot of money to the firm with no part of the pesticides production" he adds.

"Sadecki Bartnik" publishing house has recorded the conversation with Christoph Koch. This enormously  interesting and educational for all beekeepers and farmers interview is available on our video platform in "Bartnik TV".

"Fellow Beekeepers! If you notice a pesticide problem in your apiaries, do not keep it in secret. Reveal it! I know how difficult it is to say in front of a camera: 'My bees are poisoned' since my own family tried to stop me. They said that if I told about it publicly in media nobody would ever buy even a jar of honey from me."

"But I said to them: 'What will I tell my children when they ask me? You knew that bees are being poisoned, you were there and you did nothing? Is this the legacy that we want to leave our children and our grandchildren? Be brave and take actions! Talk about your problems publicly! Beekeepers are the people who observe and understand nature. We are responsible for lives of bees and insects'" - appealed to Polish beekeepers Koch.

You are most welcome to listen to the conversation and to share your experiences, opinions and comments relating to the influence of toxic plant protection chemicals on bees and the world of insects. To do so, please, visit our forum in the section of "Gorace tematy".

In the photos:
Christoph Koch in front of "Sadecki Bartnik's” cameras (photo: archive), at the meeting of German beekeepers with Tadeusz Kasztelan in "Bartna Chata" restaurant (photo: Janusz Kasztelewicz), in his apiary in Oppenau and at one of his beekeeping protest against using  deadly for bees plant protection chemicals (photo: the Internet).