Organics and Pollinators: Making Food Happen

A simple lunchtime meal could look drastically different without bees. We can thank these pollinators for about one out of every three bites of food we eat, including many of our favorite fruits like blueberries, peaches, blackberries, grapefruit, raspberries, oranges, pears and plums.

As pollinators, bees flitting around apple orchards and cranberry bogs move pollen from the male parts of trees and plants to the female parts. This shift of pollen allows the flowers to produce fruit. Many crops, like almonds, avocados, cucumbers and even onions, wouldn't produce much, if anything, without the help of bees. Globally, pollinators annually contribute about $200 billion of ecological services to agricultural production.

Recent scientific studies show that bee pollination is directly connected to human health. People need to consume a variety of nutrients to stay healthy. Globally, the crops that provide these nutrients vary widely from place to place, with developing regions of the world being more dependent on particular fruits and vegetables than others. Public health researchers estimate that 427,000 lives are lost each year worldwide from lack of nutritious food and associated diseases, directly resulting from declines in food production due to reduced pollinator populations.

Unfortunately, researchers have seen declines in the success of wild and commercial bee colonies in the U.S. over the past 60 years. This drop is attributed in part to an increase in private and commercial pesticide use. Other conditions contributing to the struggling numbers are habitat loss due to development, monoculture agriculture (growing just one crop, like corn, year after year), climate change and the introduction of non-native insect species. Cumulatively these conditions have crop farmers concerned about whether there will be enough honeybees to pollinate their fields, and beekeepers concerned about collapsing honeybee colonies.

Despite the challenges pollinators are facing, there is hope. Scientists confirm that the diverse ecosystems found on organic farms provide friendly places for bees to nest and roam. Organic farmers often grow more than one type of crop which provides bees with a varied and nutritious diet, and they don't use the types of synthetic pesticides that have been connected with bee population declines. Organic farms are helping the bees that eaters rely upon for meals every day.

Though the plight of bees may seem overwhelming, there are steps people can take to protect these precious pollinators.

• If your budget allows, purchase organic products.
• Look for products labeled as Bee Better Certified.
• If you garden, look for seeds and seedlings that are organic or “untreated.” Neonicotinoids are insecticides applied to seeds and soil that can persist in the environment, rather than degrade. These chemicals are connected to bee colony declines, and are sometimes applied even to plants marketed as good for pollinators. Ask at the nursery if you’re unsure.
• If you have access to land, plant a garden for pollinators. Set aside space in your yard or garden specifically for native flowering plants that help provide food and shelter for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
• If you have access to land, provide bees with nesting options.
• Learn more. Watch Queen of the Sun—a movie about the global bee crisis. Educate yourself and your friends with the help of The Xerces Society, a non-profit dedicated to the health of bees and other invertebrates.