Where would we be without bees? As far as important species go, they are top of the list. They are critical pollinators: they pollinate 70 of the around 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world. Honey bees are responsible for $30 billion a year in crops.
That’s only the start. We may lose all the plants that bees pollinate, all of the animals that eat those plants and so on up the food chain. Which means a world without bees could struggle to sustain the global human population of 7 billion. Our supermarkets would have half the amount of fruit and vegetables.
Here is a snapshot of what a grocery store would look like wihtout bees.
More specifically...
Source: One Green Planet
It gets worse. We are losing bees at an alarming rate. According to most available research, bees and other pollinator animals are disappearing due to a complex variety of factors including Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a global bee epidemic first identified in 2006. The cause is somewhat unclear, but experts have cited varroa mites, malnutrition, pesticides — including a new class called neonicotinoids--and even cellphones as possible causes.
What can you do to help save the bees … and your avocados and mangos as well? Here are a few tips:
- Buy local, organic as an easy way to support pollinators.
- Solve pest problems at home without toxic and persistent pesticides.
- Plant bee-friendly flowers and fruits in your own gardens.