Since the beginning of time, man has depended on animal companions to survive, whether it be hunting dogs or working horses. We probably wouldn’t have survived, had we not had those creatures. However, bees are one of the less-appreciated animals that aided humans in early agriculture some 11,500 years ago. Bees have become crucial to our human agricultural system since then.
Bees are pollinators, which are animals that help transport pollen between flowers to help with the plant fertilization. Other pollinators include birds, bats, butterflies, moths and beetles. Turns out, bees’ pollination helps feed 7 billion people today and produces most of the food we eat every day. Every year, bees produce $40 billion worth of products in America. The point is that bees are way more important than we realize. Marla Spivak explains more in her Ted talk; check it out below.
Unfortunately, human actions have been detrimental to the bee population lately. Bees have been facing Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which is the term used to describe the mass disappearance of worker honeybees from the hive. In the past 10 years, 50 percent of managed honeybee colonies have disappeared.
So, why is this happening?
Pesticides and GMOs. The use of pesticides, specifically neonicotinoids, are entering large scale farms and killing ecosystems. Companies like Syngenta, Bayer CropSciences, and Dow Agrosciences are producing these neonicotinoids.
Companies like Monsanto are selling GMO (genetically-modified organism) seeds to farmers that contain neonics. The worst part is that these pesticides and GMO crops aren’t just affecting the bees. They are affecting birds, butterflies, and other pollinators, fish and wildlife, and ultimately, us. By killing off the bees, we are killing ourselves, too.
So, here we are. Large companies and a screwed-up American food system are causing way more problems than we are even aware of. I guess no one was listening when Rachel Carson wrote these wise words in her pivotal book, "Silent Spring" in 1962:
“Can anyone believe it is possible to lay down such a barrage of poisons on the surface of the earth without making it unfit for all life? They should not be called ‘insecticides,’ but ‘biocides.’”
So now the bees’ fate is in our hands. What are we going to do about it?
Help out the pollinators by starting in your own backyard:
Grow native plants and flowers. Reduce, and ideally eliminate, your pesticide use. Also, you can help pollinators by providing clean water and shelter for them in your own yard.
Be more selective with your food choices:
Buy local, organic foods without the use of pesticides or GMOs.
Make your voice heard, and spread the word:
Currently, there aren't any regulations in place to protect bees. Make your voice heard and contact your local representatives. Encourage them to implement actions to protect the bees!
Check out the documentary, "Vanishing of the Bees." It is a really great documentary on Netflix and it dives into the potential consequences of losing the bees for good.
I really hope this opened your eyes to an issue that is much closer than we realize and gave you some ideas on how to do your part in saving bees.
