Christin Clement / Edge columnist
Bees are essential for the health of humans and the planet. Honey and other supplies have medical properties, and the role of bees as pollinators makes them vital for food products.
Pollination is where insects move pollen from one plant to another, fertilizing the plants so that they can produce fruits, vegetables, and seeds. This process is important because when bees went extinct, the balance of the world’s ecosystem and global food supplies would be destroyed.
The majority of plant species, almost 90% rely on pollinators to produce. There are around 200,000 different species in the world that act as pollinators. Pollinators help plants to survive and plants keep waterways clean, provide food for humans and wildlife, produce the oxygen that is needed for humans, absorb CO2, and they are used for medicine.
Honey bees are the most efficient species of pollinators in the world. An average honey bee can pollinate over 2,000 flowers in one day. The important species helps plants to increase their chances of producing vegetables or fruits. Due to climate change the number of honey bees has been highly decreased in the last few years. Other factors include viruses, parasites, pesticides, and monoculture farming.
In 2016, 44% of the honey bee population died. The population decreased from 6 million in 1970 to 2.5 million today. Experts are concerned about the impact on food supplies, especially fruits, vegetables and nuts, but also medicine and natural products. They say without bees the human diet will have nutritional deficiencies. Without coffee, cocoa, tomatoes, apples, nuts and other important foods, humans will have troubles to get their vital nutrients and vitamins.
Additionally, important medicine may never be acceptable without pollinators. Also, farmers and pollinators are in close connection to each other. When the bees went extinct, there would be no more farming because food supplies wouldn’t exist anymore and people would lose their jobs.
There are many ways to prevent that the bees will go extinct. Green gardens and backyards, growing flowers and reducing landscaping activities can help to increase the number of honey bees. According to a study in 2019, creating places in urban areas can help to improve human mental help and well-being.
Bees are important for the environmental protection of food supplies and medical products. Bees are vital when it comes to food supply. The number of bees has decreased worldwide, and it is essential to protect them also for the humans well-being.
Sources:
Bees: how important are they and what would happen if they went extinct?
The importance of bees to humans, the planet, and food supplies
WE NEED BEES
Pictures:
Why bees are essential to people and planet
A Precious Gift: The Native Irish Honey Bee