Handed to BPC by the 132nd Maine Legislature (LD 1323, PL 2025 c.69). Specifically, the items that the department will need fulfilled by subject-matter experts from this legislative document includes section 1, items 1 through 7, with special consideration given to effects on potato, corn and wild blueberry crops. The impacts of neonicotinoids, including neonicotinoid-treated seeds, on pollinators; A cost-benefit analysis of neonicotinoid-treated seeds compared to untreated seeds, including the market availability of neonicotinoid-treated seeds compared to untreated seeds; The impact of neonicotinoids on the environment, including, but not limited to, soil, water and plant tissues; The toxicity of neonicotinoids to humans; A multi-criteria alternative assessment of neonicotinoid seed treatments for the protection of crops from damaging pests and disease; The toxicity of effective alternatives to neonicotinoids and neonicotinoid-treated seeds that may be used for the protection of crops from damaging pests and disease; and Methods of application of alternatives to neonicotinoids and neonicotinoid-treated seeds and the required number of applications for effectiveness. These items need to be answered thoroughly, with relevant research, figures, comparisons, and projections about the use of these pesticides and pesticide-treated articles. Additionally, the board staff may need assistance gathering relevant research related to other items relevant to this resolve. This might include research and data related to the toxicity and environmental impact of these materials and their use. The research report should be thorough, specific to Maine’s needs, and comparable to similar studies recently published by other states. Reports should include: Sections broken down by subject-matter, preferably by item number from the LD above Include an introduction, discussion, sections broken down by topic, and conclusions Outline relevant research and present graphs and figures of data Be specific to Maine’s agricultural and commercial needs Including market availability, market research, agronomy, and cost-benefit analyses Including by crop types and application methods All emerging technology or alternatives to the current system Comparisons of neonicotinoids to alternatives Toxicological analysis of neonicotinoids and alternatives
