Traditional domestication of bees began in the early 1800’s along with most early advent of manmade beehives. Since these early pioneers of apiculture, beekeeping has progressed to an essential aspect of modern agriculture. In America, the production of specialty foods such as berries, nuts, fruit, and vegetables have become reliant on not only wild pollinators as a whole, but domesticated bee’s specifically. Beekeeping has become a reputable business, one that entails beekeepers traveling across states with their colonies to pollinate farms all over the country. Unfortunately in the recent years this process has come under threat due to Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, which predominantly effects domesticated bees. According the Enviromental
…show more content…
With the continued decrease in honey bee populations, however, there are additional economic and agricultural issues. In the US, the pollination services provide around 15 billion dollars in crop value (Allsopp). While bees aren’t as important in the production of crops such as corn, fruits, vegetables, nuts and berries are reliant on pollinators. Many of the most common foods that rely on honey bee pollination are shown in the 2006 graph …show more content…
In California, the almond market has largely expanded in the previous years and almonds are now responsible for adding 11 billion dollars to the economy (Allsopp). If honey bees continue to die out at the same rate that money will be lost. While there are alternatives to honey bee pollination, none are nearly as effective. In South West China, there has been a drastic decrease in wild honey bees due to excessive pesticides and loss of habitat. For a population as dense as China’s efficient food production is essential, but the efforts of apple and pear farmers have been largely limited by the loss in bees. The Chinese farmers have turned to hand pollination. They now have to walk their farms with a bowl of pollen and a paint brush, individually dusting each flower
With the continued decrease in honey bee populations, however, there are additional economic and agricultural issues. In the US, the pollination services provide around 15 billion dollars in crop value (Allsopp). While bees aren’t as important in the production of crops such as corn, fruits, vegetables, nuts and berries are reliant on pollinators. Many of the most common foods that rely on honey bee pollination are shown in the 2006 graph …show more content…
In California, the almond market has largely expanded in the previous years and almonds are now responsible for adding 11 billion dollars to the economy (Allsopp). If honey bees continue to die out at the same rate that money will be lost. While there are alternatives to honey bee pollination, none are nearly as effective. In South West China, there has been a drastic decrease in wild honey bees due to excessive pesticides and loss of habitat. For a population as dense as China’s efficient food production is essential, but the efforts of apple and pear farmers have been largely limited by the loss in bees. The Chinese farmers have turned to hand pollination. They now have to walk their farms with a bowl of pollen and a paint brush, individually dusting each flower