As bees pollinate the majority of the food crops we eat, bees are clearly vital for our survival. But to grow more food, we are creating bigger and bigger farms but big farms tend to destroy the native habitats which are vital for the survival of both wild and managed bees. So the more food we try to produce, the fewer bees there will be, which will inevitably mean less food. It’s clearly not going to work.
The only sustainable option is for humans and nature to collaborate, which means moving away from the brute force approach of large mono-culture farming and its dependence on pesticides, and adopting natural, regenerative ways of farming.
The World Bee Project’s work with remote small-holder farmers in India is a great example. Farmers receive the training and equipment required to manage native bees, which provides them with a much needed extra source of income, but also helps pollinate local crops, as well as help protect native bee populations. But in addition, the farmers receive training in regenerative farming techniques, as well as help to plant new trees to regenerate local forests. So, farmers and bees are working together for mutual advantage, which means more bees, more income for farmers, less pesticides and better local biodiversity.
Note: The UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day as it coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard, while needing so little attention.
