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Honeybees are a linchpin in our food system. 🐝 And we are putting too much pressure on them. Hives travel around the country during critical pollination windows to pollinate a single crop before getting shipped to the next flowering field, sometimes thousands of miles away. But the honeybee species make up only 8 of 350,000 known pollinator species. Native pollinators and their habitat have been in decline for decades, but their restoration holds the key to added resilience to our food and farming systems. Joe Dickey received a grant from Southern SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Program in 2016 to plant 3, quarter acre wildflower plots around his orchard in Georgia. That year apple production increased 30 percent, compared to the previous 2 years when the wildflowers were absent from the farm. In 2016, apple production surged to 3,150 bushels, an increase from an average of 2,200-2,300 bushels from the previous 2 years Over 100 native bee species have been identified at his orchard, with a few ultra-rare species calling his farm home. The wildflower plots provide a season long supply of food for the local pollinators close to his orchard during the entire growing season (March-October). And this includes during the peak summer months when food availability is typically poor for pollinators in his area. Not only is habitat diversity beneficial for more yield, it also takes pressure off of the delicate dance between the annual honeybee migration, the farmers and the food system. This dance has to be perfectly in sync season after season, while fighting honeybee disease, increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and economic pressures. I was so encouraged when I learned that Biodynamic Demeter Alliance requires its farms to have at least 10% of the farm's total area dedicated to biodiversity and wildlife habitat. I mean what is there to lose? And I think farms could benefit from the additional beauty. Plus, who doesn't love flowers? This seems like a clear, simple & regenerative path forward. Anyone know of pollinator projects to connect with? #soilhealth #sustainableagriculture #farming #agriculture #organicfarming #regenerativeagriculture #restoration

As an entomologist, I am thrilled to join in the celebration of Pollinator Week! This is a special time dedicated to recognizing and raising awareness about the crucial role that pollinators play in our ecosystems. Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, beetles, and other insects, are essential for the health of our environment. They help pollinate approximately 75% of flowering plants and nearly 35% of global food crops. Without these industrious creatures, our diets and the planet's biodiversity would be drastically diminished. Here are a few key reasons why pollinators are so important: Food Security: Pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. They contribute to the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Biodiversity: Pollinators support healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils, protect from severe weather, and support other wildlife. Economic Impact: Pollination services are valued at billions of dollars worldwide, supporting both agriculture and the production of various plant-derived products. Despite their importance, pollinators face significant threats from habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and disease. Here’s how you can help: Plant a Pollinator Garden: Include a variety of native plants that bloom throughout the seasons to provide food and habitat for pollinators. Avoid Pesticides: Opt for natural pest control methods to protect pollinators from harmful chemicals. Support Local Beekeepers: Purchase honey and other hive products from local sources to help sustain beekeeping practices. Educate and Advocate: Share information about the importance of pollinators and support policies that protect their habitats. This Pollinator Week, let’s commit to making small changes in our gardens, communities, and lifestyles to support these incredible insects. Together, we can ensure that pollinators continue to thrive and play their vital role in maintaining the health of our planet. Happy Pollinator Week! 🐝🌿🦋 #pollinatorweek #bees #pollinator #habitats #biodiversity #sustainability #agriculture #flowers #plants 

The buzz around "save the bees" is crucial, but it's important to understand the nuances. While honeybee populations are stable, wild bees, essential for ecosystems and agriculture, face immediate threats. Over a quarter of North America's bumblebee species are in decline. Here's the buzz breakdown: 1. Diverse Bee Species: Western honeybees are just one of many bee species. Wild bees, often neglected, play a vital role in pollination. 2. Wild Bee Decline: Over 25% of North America's bumblebee species are declining. The rusty-patched bumblebee and others face challenges. 3. Agricultural Impact: Wild pollinators contribute as much as domestic honeybees to crop value, with honeybees not always being the most efficient pollinators. 4. Supporting Diversity: Wild bees pollinate native plants, crucial for non-agricultural landscapes. Remember, wild and domestic bees require different support. As we advocate for bee conservation, understanding the intricate balance between wild and domestic species is key.

The Importance of Pollinators for Food Production 🐝 Pollination Powerhouse: Over 75% of the world's major food crops benefit from natural pollination, impacting both the quantity and quality of our harvests. These pollinator-dependent crops contribute a significant 35% to the total volume of food produced globally. 🐤 Vulnerability and Value: While the level of dependence on natural pollination varies, it's estimated that 5-8% of current global food production, with a staggering market value of $235 billion to $577 billion annually, relies heavily on this process. 🦋 Pollinator Peril: The situation is concerning. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List reports that 16.5% of vertebrate pollinators, like birds and bats, face the threat of global extinction. This number jumps to a worrying 30% for island species. 🐞 Insect Woes: While there's no global Red List assessment specifically for insects, regional and national studies paint a grim picture. In Europe alone, 9% of bee and butterfly species are classified as threatened, with populations declining for a significant portion (37% for bees and 31% for butterflies). National assessments, where available, often show an even more alarming trend, with over 40% of bee species potentially facing extinction. #biodiversity #pollinators #pollination #planetregeneration #regenerativeagriculture #naturecapital #naturefinance Read Full Summary https://lnkd.in/geHm9Pma

🐝Today marks Bees Needs Week!🐝 Pollinators like bees are crucial for the environment and food production. Did you know that Almost 90% of wild plants and 75% of leading global crops depend on animal pollination? One out of every three mouthfuls of our food depends on pollinators such as bees. Crops that depend on pollination are five times more valuable than those that do not. Bees' Needs Week is an annual event coordinated by Defra to raise awareness and encourage actions to support pollinators. They share 5 simple actions that could help. 🐝Grow more nectar-rich flowers, shrubs and trees. Using window or balcony boxes are good options if you don't have a garden. 🐝Let patches of garden and land grow wild. 🐝Cut grass less often. 🐝Do not disturb insect nests and hibernation spots. 🐝Think carefully about whether to use pesticides. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eDBpqpuu #BeesNeedsWeek #Biodiversity #idverdeUK

🐝 It's only July, but at BeeHero, we're already dreaming about the almond pollination season... You know that magical time of year when a stunning white blanket of almond blossoms blankets the Central Valley? In fact, believe it or not, California is the largest almond producer in the world. 🌼 Let's take a quick look at the numbers: 📌 California proudly contributes 80% of the global almond production. 📌  In late February, about 90% of all U.S. honey bees are in California working diligently to pollinate almonds. 📌 The state hosts 1.63 million acres of almond trees – each acre teeming with about 125 trees. 📌 These trees yield an astounding 900 billion almonds each year. 📌 That's over 100 almonds for every person on the planet But, that doesn't happen if we don't have healthy bees! As we head into the final stretches of summer, it's crucial for beekeepers to take the necessary steps to ensure their bees are well prepared for overwintering. That's where BeeHero's cutting-edge sensors come into play, offering real-time insights about hive health and environmental conditions, enabling beekeepers to take swift action when needed. The next month will require careful attention to the health and well-being of the hives, as this period is instrumental in setting the stage for next year's almond pollination season. Beekeepers need to be proactive in managing disease and pests, ensuring the bees have sufficient food stores, and properly insulating their hives to withstand winter's chill. This diligent work over the winter months, aided by BeeHero's technology, is the foundation for a productive and robust bee population, ready to rise to the challenge of the intensive almond pollination season come February. The future of our almond harvests – and the critical balance of our ecosystems – depends on this careful stewardship. #AgTech #Pollination #BeeHero #AlmondSeason #SustainableAgriculture #CaliforniaAlmonds

Welcome to summer! The U.S. Senate designated this week, the 3rd week of June, as National Pollinator week. About 75% of flowering plants rely on pollinators - insects, birds, bats and other animals - for reproduction. That means without pollination, many fruits, vegetables and seed crops as well as crops that provide feed, medicine and fuel, cannot grow. This will put U.S. economic, agriculture and environmental systems at risk. So what can we do about it? Plant native gardens. Eliminate the use of pesticides. Encourage your community to plant native gardens and create pollinator-friendly habitats. What's good for the bees will also be good for your wallet. Less mowing, no more need to buy pesticides and flowering plants will bring beauty to your yard and community. #pollinators #pollinatorweek #summer #environmental #economy

A single honeybee can visit up to 5,000 flowers in a single day while foraging for nectar and pollen. This remarkable efficiency in pollination not only ensures the bee's survival but also plays a crucial role in the reproduction of various plant species, making bees vital pollinators for agriculture and the environment. Beyond honey production, bees are unsung heroes as primary pollinators of countless plant species. Their tireless efforts ensure the reproduction of diverse flora and contribute significantly to our global food supply. This article provides a clearer insight on why bees are key players in keeping a healthy environment and how we can do our part to save them! https://lnkd.in/g52G4CRw. #GriffcoCommunity #LinkedInCommunity #YourPartnerForGood #TheBuzzonHoney #Bees #Pollinators #EcosystemHealth

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF BEES WENT EXTINCT? The #socio #economical and #biodiversity benefit of the #bees were recorded for so many years. The #most of the #most benefit of the #bees is its ability to support and stabilize our #FoodSystem! Before we explore what would happen if bees went extinct, let's recall why bees? Insect pollination of agricultural crops is a critical ecosystem service. About 80% of indigenous flowering plants in Africa benefit from honey bee pollination, & approximately one-third of all food produced is the result of commercial honey bee pollination. The fees are suffering a magnitude of problems, including #parasitic mites, honey bee #diseases, loss of #habitat or flowerless landscape, #inability of honey bees to work at #LowTemperature and adverse #climatic conditions, #AirPollution, but most importantly the over-use of #pesticides. According to The Guardian (April 2021), the toxic impact of pesticides on bees and other pollinators has doubled in a decade and because of this we are losing bees at an alarming rate. However, 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 or less the amount of #fruit and #vegetables. What else do you think would happen if bee went extinct? Leave your comment for the interactive discussion. Read the detailed literatures through: https://lnkd.in/dCCNByQ9 https://lnkd.in/dxmCZq-Y https://lnkd.in/deMwh5T2

This is an important and much needed paper. It's becoming always clearer that it needs healthy #pollinator communities for high quality #croppollination. No, honey bees are not enough, they're not the most important. However, we don't know much about the life-histories and habitat requirements of most non-bee pollinators. This paper brought together what we know, and, most importantly, what we don't know. That means it shows the areas where we need more research. So, for tackling our increasing dependance on crop pollination: look at the pollination needs of a crop, at the potential pollinators and what they need. Then try to give them that. That's the much more successful strategy than just putting honey bee colonies at the crop. I say this as a bee person. It doesn't diminish the value of bees - managed or not - acknowledging the value of all pollinators. So, read this paper. It's essential. https://lnkd.in/eXMk6HV2 #BeeSafe