What is it about?
The cocoa plant is prone to disease and pests and therefore relies heavily on pesticides for cultivation. Here, we use a systematic literature review to quantify the extent of research on residues of pesticides used in cocoa cultivation in honey.
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Why is it important?
In 81% of the 104 studies examined for this analysis, 169 distinct compounds were detected. Imidacloprid was the most frequently detected pesticide, making neonicotinoids the most frequently found class of pesticides overall.
Perspectives
I found it quite surprising that only 19% of the 104 studies reviewed were carried out in cocoa-producing countries! Priority needs to be given to countries that produce cocoa to help understand the potential impact of pesticide residues linked with cocoa cultivation on bees and bee products.
Richard Gyamfi Boakye
University College Dublin
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Honey contamination from plant protection products approved for cocoa (Theobroma cacao) cultivation: A systematic review of existing research and methods, PLoS ONE, October 2023, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280175.
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