Why Bees Matter

A close up of a yellow honeybee

Everything from intensive pesticide use, mites, genetically modified crops, climate change, factory farmed bees, and cellphone use, has been recently linked to the increase in collapse of bee colonies around the world. In some communities more than 90% of bee colonies have been affected. Theories vary on each aspect of how and why the bees are being so adversely affected, but the frightening reality is we need insects to pollinate food. Bees pollinate the food humans and animals eat.

80% of crop pollination is accomplished by honeybees.
—United States Department of Agriculture

Factory Farmed Bees

The American-based Organic Consumers Association reports ‘…factory farmed honeybees are much more susceptible to stress from environmental sources than organic or feral honey bees’. Often, non-organic bee factory farming methods involve the use of antibiotics, carbolic acid for the removal of honey, calcium cyanide use for killing colonies before extracting the honey, and the fumigation of comb honey, according to the Entomology Research Division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Increasingly individuals are becoming aware of the non-sustainable methods of industrial apiculture.

Organic beekeepers believe the onus on non-toxic, holistic methods are preventing the onset of colony collapse disorder in their hives. The USDA estimates 80% of crop pollination is accomplished by honeybees. With human survival so intrinsically linked to this small creature it might just be time to start treating the humble honeybee with more care.

Beekeeping 101

If you are able to provide a non-toxic, natural environment for bees, now might be the time to consider taking up the ancient tradition of keeping bees. Beekeepers, apiarists, or honey-hunters, are believed to have been obtaining honey for more than 15,000 years. Methods have changed from bravely scaling a tree to snatch a bit of honey to large-scale industrialized factory farms for bees. Unfortunately, as with most factory farm methodologies, the emphasis is on productivity and profit with little regard for the health of the insect (or animal) and the long-term sustainability of the project.

Americans are some of the largest honey consumers in the world; on average eating more than 1.29 pounds of honey a year.

Sustainability

With increased awareness around the need for food sustainability, individuals are starting to look at keeping backyard beehives. Bees provide a valuable contribution to any property or farm; bees pollinate plants and may provide nutritious honey. However it is important to note it is almost impossible to consume any animal-based product without some stress for the animal or insect.

Bees produce honey as an important contribution to the hive; in the same way a chicken produces eggs for reproduction and a cow produces milk to feed its calves. Honey should be harvested carefully with minimum disruption to the hive. Most hives do create excess honey in the spring/summer, but hives do not have a surplus year round. In fact, most factory-farmed honey harvested in the fall/winter comes from feeding the bees commercial sugar. Honey is a seasonal treat that should be consumed in moderation.

Overconsumption

The American-based Honey Board estimated 60% of all honey in the USA is produced from large-scale operations; more than 180 million pounds of honey were consumed in the US between 2001-2005. Americans are some of the largest honey consumers in the world; on average eating more than 1.29 pounds of honey a year. The largest producer of honey is China; producing more than 40% of the global market. South America and Australia are also major producers of cheap honey. Honey production also has a sticky side to it. Honey laundering, antibiotics and price undercutting has created a bitter side to what was once considered a sweet industry. Much of the demand for honey is driven by consumer desire and the profits made from honey production., rather than care for the bees themselves.

Organic Honey

It is almost impossible to ensure the honey is 100% organic with the leaching of pesticides and the increase in genetically modified crops and their cross-contamination with organic crops. Bees may travel more than 1-5 miles (1.6-8kms) and come in contact with more than 2 million plants. Organic farming standards try to ensure bees are located 2-5 kms from contaminated sites or non-organic crop sources. Additionally in organic beekeeping, provisions are made to ensure adequate honey is left over to feed the hive through the winter and if artificial feeding must take place, then it should be from the original honey source.