There is growing concern about the impacts of the widespread use of systemic pesticides—such as neonicotinoids ("neonics")—on the many forms of life that exist within healthy, biodiverse environments. This article investigates how we can integrate practical design principles to create healthy, food-producing ecosystems that reduce pest pressure on crops and, in turn, reduce the need for pesticides.

Neonicotinoid (neonic) seed coatings are contributing to the decline of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators by contaminating plants, soil, and water, where they can impair insects' health and survival. These pollinator losses threaten Colorado's rich biodiversity. The Seed We Need Campaign is advocating for a needs-based approach to insecticide-treated seeds, reducing unnecessary neonic use while protecting both farmers' crop yields and pollinators.

Extreme weather is costing Coloradans money. And it will cost us more the longer we delay addressing it.