Bee colonies collapse-global food shortage feared

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A terrifyingly plausible potential apocalypse scenario is raised by the death of the world’s bee colonies. It turns out that cellphones (one theory) as well as a disease process, could be wiping out bee populations, which will have a “knock out” effect on the pollination of plants, and in turn diminish our food resources.  The Independent writes about one of several theories, albeit an outdated one:

It seems like the plot of a particularly far-fetched horror film. But some scientists suggest that our love of the mobile phone could cause massive food shortages, as the world’s harvests fail.

They are putting forward the theory that radiation given off by mobile phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible answer to one of the more bizarre mysteries ever to happen in the natural world – the abrupt disappearance of the bees that pollinate crops. Late last week, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon – which started in the US, then spread to continental Europe – was beginning to hit Britain as well.

The implications of the spread are alarming. Most of the world’s crops depend on pollination by bees. Albert Einstein once said that if the bees disappeared, “man would have only four years of life left”.

This is where we are and we should be afraid.  Times they are certainly changing. The following is cross posted, with thanks, from our friends at Crooks and Liars:

And that’s actually pretty terrifying. I wonder whether bees will turn out to be the biological control mechanism that puts humanity in check.

The mysterious collapse of honey-bee colonies is becoming a global phenomenon, scientists working for the United Nations have revealed.

Declines in managed bee colonies, seen increasingly in Europe and the US in the past decade, are also now being observed in China and Japan and there are the first signs of African collapses from Egypt, according to the report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The authors, who include some of the world’s leading honey-bee experts, issue a stark warning about the disappearance of bees, which are increasingly important as crop pollinators around the globe. Without profound changes to the way human beings manage the planet, they say, declines in pollinators needed to feed a growing global population are likely to continue. The scientists warn that a number of factors may now be coming together to hit bee colonies around the world, ranging from declines in flowering plants and the use of damaging insecticides, to the worldwide spread of pests and air pollution. They call for farmers and landowners to be offered incentives to restore pollinator-friendly habitats, including key flowering plants near crop-producing fields and stress that more care needs to be taken in the choice, timing and application of insecticides and other chemicals. While managed hives can be moved out of harm’s way, “wild populations (of pollinators) are completely vulnerable”, says the report.

“The way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director.

“The fact is that of the 100 crop species that provide 90 per cent of the world’s food, over 70 are pollinated by bees.

“Human beings have fabricated the illusion that in the 21st century they have the technological prowess to be independent of nature.

“Bees underline the reality that we are more, not less, dependent on nature’s services in a world of close to seven billion people.”

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About Post Author

Carol Bell

Carol is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Her passion is journalism and it shows. Carol is our unpaid, but very efficient, administrative secretary.
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12 years ago

as;ldjas;dmaso;mdaso;

David Rice
13 years ago

Carol, when did the bee colony collapse begin? Are you studying entomology? Are there certain flowers that bees prefer?

dp1053
13 years ago

In all honesty, the best thing that could happen to this planet is for people to disappear. Oh, wait, we are killing ourselves off anyway, so its just a matter of time.

Michael John Scott
Reply to  dp1053
13 years ago

I agree Deb!

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