The British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) received donations and sponsorship from Bayer CropScience for roughly 12 years prior to November 2010, when the association announced it was ending these commercial relationships.

The Deal: The BBKA endorsed several pesticides produced by Bayer and Syngenta as "bee-friendly," which included products used for tackling the varroa mite. Funding Amount: The association was believed to have received about £175,000 in total from pesticide producers during that period, with Bayer and Syngenta paying a combined amount that included roughly £17,500 a year for the endorsement, which was often directed toward funding initiatives like beekeeping books for schools or headquarters renovations. Controversy: The funding sparked intense debate within the BBKA, as many members were furious about the partnership, noting that Bayer manufactured pesticides (neonicotinoids) known to kill bees, accusing the association of "greenwash". Termination: In November 2010, the BBKA announced it would end the partnership following intense criticism and concerns about the chemicals' safety.