The Plight of Bees and Their Role in Food Security

Debi_Murk_SweatBeeInAster_1800pxW

Sweat Bee In Aster by Debi Murk

As we launch another summer of our ever-popular Beauty of the Bee Photo Contest, it offers an opportunity to spread the good word about the inherent, sacred beauty of humanity's constant insect companion, the bee. It's also a chance to reflect on its truly remarkable value to our survival as a species, fully engaged with agriculture as a way of life.

Bees have recently been declared the most important living beings on Earth by the Earthwatch Institute during a meeting at the Royal Geographical Society of London. This declaration highlights the crucial role bees play in maintaining our ecosystems and food security. Bees are responsible for pollinating around 70% of the world's crops, making them indispensable for food production.1

Celebrate the Beauty of Bees and WIN!

Did you know that bees play a vital role in creating the foods we love? From crunchy autumn apples and delicious summer blueberries to fiber-filled almonds and sweet tomatoes, bees are our tiny, unsung heroes in food growing and harvesting. Without bees, our dinner tables would have far less variety.

AutumnSteam-MeasureOfABee_2013WinnerBeePhoto-CROP

Honeybee hive photo courtesy of Autumn Steam, first place winner of our first Beauty of the Bee Photo Contest.

Honey Bees vs. Native Bees

When we think of bees, we often picture honey bees. Honey bees are known for producing honey and living in large colonies. Recently, news reports have pointed to the beginning of a recovery of honey bee populations (more references below). This is great news, but it's important to remember that honey bees are not the only pollinators.

Native bees are also crucial for pollination. There are over 4,000 species of native bees in North America alone, and they come in many shapes and sizes. The Oregon Bee Atlas project estimates around 800 species of native bees live in Oregon.* Some native bees are even better at pollinating certain crops than honey bees. For example, bumblebees are excellent pollinators of tomatoes and blueberries. Native bees often work more efficiently because they have different ways of collecting pollen and are active in different weather conditions than honey bees.

MostFB-Likes_LindaCousino_SharingIsCaring-CROP

Photo by Linda Cousino, "Sharing Is Caring," winner of the Facebook Choice Award in the 2021 Beauty of the Bee Photo Contest

Current state of the crisis

As of 2024, the situation regarding bee populations in the U.S. shows some surprising developments. Honeybee populations, in particular, have seen significant growth. Over the past five years, the number of honeybee colonies has increased by more than one million, bringing the total to nearly 4 million. This increase is largely attributed to the economic value of honeybees, especially for crops like almonds, which rely heavily on honey bee pollination. This economic necessity has driven efforts to maintain and even expand honeybee populations despite ongoing challenges such as diseases and environmental stresses​​.2

However, the situation is not uniformly positive across all bee species. Far from it! Wild bees and other native bee species continue to face severe challenges, including habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and diseases. Unlike honeybees, wild bees cannot be managed as easily, which makes their declines more difficult to counteract. The survival and health of these bee populations are crucial for biodiversity and the pollination of wild plants, but they receive less attention and fewer conservation resources compared to commercial honeybees​.3

Overall, while managed honeybee populations are increasing due to their economic importance and active management, wild bee species in the U.S. are still experiencing significant declines, indicating a mixed overall picture for the health of bee populations in 2024.

The Decline of Native Bees

While honey bees are making a comeback this year, native bees are still in decline. This decline can be attributed to several factors, including habitat loss, pesticide use, disease, and climate change.4

Threatened Species of Native Bees**

Several species of native bees are at serious risk of extinction. Here are a few examples:

American Bumblebee (Bombus pensylvanicus)
Once among the most common and widespread bumblebee species, the American bumblebee once thrived in open areas across the lower 48 states, except Washington. After the population started plunging in the 2000s, now this iconic species has disappeared from at least eight states and experienced severe decline across its remaining range.

Southern Plains Bumblebee (Bombus fraternus)
This bumblebee species is native to the perennial grasslands and open woodlands of America’s Great Plains, Midwest and southeastern coastal plains.

Mojave Poppy Bee (Perdita meconis)
The tiny Mojave poppy bee is only known to live in seven sites in and around Nevada’s Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This bee is a poppy specialist, gathering pollen from the imperiled Las Vegas bear-poppy and the endangered dwarf bear-poppy.

Rusty Patched Bumblebee (Bombus affinis)
Once common in the Midwest and Eastern United States, this bumblebee has experienced a severe population decline. It is now listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and disease​.

Franklin’s Bumblebee (Bombus franklini)
Found only in a small region of southern Oregon and northern California, Franklin’s bumblebee is one of the rarest bees in the world. Its decline is attributed to habitat loss, pesticide use, and disease​.

Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumblebee (Bombus suckleyi)
Suckley’s cuckoo bumblebees have a fascinating story. Females must fight or sneak into a colony of western bumblebees and kill or subdue the host colony’s queen. The cuckoo queen bee then lays her own eggs and gains control of the host colony’s worker bees, who continue collecting pollen and nectar to feed the cuckoo queen’s offspring.

Strawberries_Untitled-70_CROP-ADJ_1800px

Why the Decline of Bees is a Problem for Food Security

Food security means having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Bees play a critical role in ensuring food security by pollinating crops that make up a large part of our diet. When bee populations decline, it can lead to lower crop yields, which translates into less food available and higher prices for the food that is available.5

Bees are responsible for pollinating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Some of the most bee-dependent crops include apples, blueberries, cherries, almonds, and pumpkins. Without bees, these crops would produce significantly less fruit, and in some cases, might not produce fruit at all. This reduction in crop yield directly impacts the availability of these foods in the market.6

For example, if there are fewer bees to pollinate apple trees, there will be fewer apples. This can cause apple prices to go up, making it harder for people to afford this healthy fruit. This is especially challenging for underserved communities who already face barriers to accessing healthy food. These communities are often located in food deserts, areas where access to affordable, nutritious food is limited. The increase in food prices due to the decline of bee populations exacerbates the existing food insecurity in these areas.

Moreover, the decline in native bee populations doesn't just affect the quantity and price of food, but also the nutritional quality. Many of the crops that rely on bee pollination are rich in essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. A decrease in the availability of these foods can lead to a less varied and less nutritious diet, further impacting the health and well-being of communities.

The economic impact of declining bee populations is also significant. Farmers who grow bee-dependent crops may face financial losses due to reduced yields, which can lead to higher production costs. These costs are often passed on to consumers, contributing to the overall increase in food prices. Additionally, farmers may need to invest in alternative pollination methods, such as hand pollination or the use of other pollinating insects, which can be labor-intensive and costly.

Addressing the decline of native bee populations is crucial for maintaining food security and ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food. This involves protecting bee habitats, reducing the use of pesticides that harm bees, and supporting sustainable agricultural practices that promote biodiversity. By taking these steps, we can help ensure that bees continue to play their vital role in our food system and support the health and well-being of all communities.

~ John Jordan-Cascade,
Web Manager and Photo Contest organizer

 

Write to me if you would like to contribute a bee-themed prize for the Beauty of the Bee Photo Contest.

Please visit our Facebook group so you can vote for your favorite photos as they are posted.
NOTE: Facebook votes will not be the primary determining factor in choosing winners, but we will provide special recognition for the photo that gets the most positive recognition on Facebook.


References

1) Bees Declared The Most Important Species On Earth by Luana Steffen

2) Honeybee populations are hitting record numbers. Weren’t they dying off before?
Kai Ryssdal, Sarah Leeson, and Sofia Terenzio (May 16, 2024)

3) Q&A: Are honey bees, wild bees still in trouble? by Diana Yates, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (June 30, 2023)

4) Pollinator Decline: Implications for Food Security & Environment
Opinion article by Professor Johanne Brunet of USDA-ARS at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

5) Breeze, T. D., Vaissière, B. E., Bommarco, R., Petanidou, T., Seraphides, N., Kozak, L., ... & Kleijn, D. (2014). Agricultural policies exacerbate honeybee pollination service supply-demand mismatches across Europe. PLOS One, 9(1), e82996.

6) Aizen, M. A., & Harder, L. D. (2009). The Global Stock of Domesticated Honey Bees Is Growing Slower Than Agricultural Demand for Pollination. NIH, originally published in Current Biology, 19(11), 915-918.

Resources

Endangered Pollinators and Wild Bee Conservation (Xerces Society)

Honey bees are not in peril. These bees are.
Want to save the bees? First, throw out most of what you know about them.
by Benji Jones (Jan 19, 2023)

Learn more about What You Can Do to Save Bees (PDF)

Read Krystal Abrams' blog, "Buzzing with Excitement: Bee Surveys Reveal a Hidden World of Native Bee Riches!"

--------------------------------------

* Entomologists estimate that there are around 800 species of native bees in Oregon. The Oregon Bee Atlas project, supported by Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Agriculture, has been instrumental in cataloging and studying these species. This effort has significantly increased our understanding of Oregon's bee biodiversity. The project has documented over 650 native bee species, with ongoing efforts likely to reveal even more as citizen scientists and researchers continue their surveys across the state

** Native Bees page on Center for Biological Diversity website​ 

How Baby Foods Might be Damaging Your Baby's Brain

Man Feeding Son

As elements with a higher density than water, heavy metals occur naturally in the environment. However, while some are beneficial for our health, such as zinc and iron, others can wreak havoc on our nervous system. Four of the most dangerous heavy metals are arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury [1]. Shockingly, these heavy metals can also be found in baby food intended for children under 36 months who go through a critical period of growth and development [2]. Exposure to these heavy metals by ingestion over a long time can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism [3], mainly if the baby food the child is fed contains chemical pesticides, too.

Recently, a congressional report exposed four major baby food companies in the U.S. for allowing outrageous concentrations of heavy metals in their products. The baby food manufacturers that agreed to partake in the investigation, led by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, were found to use ingredients exceeding the safe limit of arsenic by 91 times and the maximum limit of lead by 177, and the safe limit of cadmium by 69 times. Because there are no regulations for heavy metals in baby food [4], companies feel encouraged to cut corners by skipping testing for these contaminants and thereby place financial gain over the wellbeing of children.

What exacerbates the extent of toxic exposure among children? In catering to baby food companies, farmers often use hazardous pesticides on their crops to destroy weeds and keep pests at bay. Pesticides can easily contaminate baby food, just like heavy metals, as they are absorbed by the grains, fruits, and vegetables through the leaves and roots. Heavy metals and pesticides act as neurotoxins [5] once inside children's bodies, which means exposure is likely to affect their neurodevelopment.

 

e2bb1b9d-1806-4fd8-972b-bd65daf02b35

 

How Exposure to Heavy Metals and Pesticides Cause Neurodevelopmental Problems

Exposure to heavy metals from baby food has a cumulative impact on the nervous system of children, as they accumulate in their bodies and stay there forever. Children have a higher rate of nutrient uptake by the gastrointestinal tract and undeveloped detoxification systems, making them more prone to neurotoxicity. Because heavy metals and pesticides are neurotoxins, they can easily cross the blood-brain barrier [6] and reach cerebral matter, where they will settle. Researchers have examined the brain tumor samples of patients with neurological disorders and found neurotoxicity and heavy metal poisoning.

Lead was found to take a toll on the nervous system of babies, affecting brain development and function. Currently, roughly 500,000 children between 1 and 5 in America have blood concentrations of lead above the official safe limit [7]. The presence of significant concentrations of lead in children's bodies can cause organ and metabolic abnormalities at the cellular and molecular levels of the nervous system.

The buildup of heavy metals in children's blood will create free radicals [8], which generate oxidative stress. Free radicals are very harmful, as they can cause a wide range of serious diseases, whereas oxidative stress can damage proteins, DNA, and cells [9]. 

Finally, when it comes to pesticides, organophosphates, carbamates, and organochlorine pesticides were scientifically proven to be neurotoxic [10], especially in very young children. Fumigants, which are neurotoxins, too, cause damage to the nervous system by inducing toxicological mechanisms that affect most tissues in the body. In addition to autism, other neurodevelopmental problems exposure to heavy metals and pesticides from baby food can cause are cognitive damage, learning disabilities, conduct disorders, mental retardation, behavioral disorders, vision and hearing impairment, cerebral palsy, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

 

The Baby Food Safety Act of 2021 Gives Hope to Parents of Infants and Toddlers

Shortly after the congressional report was made public, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi proposed the Baby Food Safety Act [11]. This bill would immediately set baby food's arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury limits. If it becomes effective, the bill would also make it mandatory for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to closely monitor baby food companies and lower the maximum allowable limits for heavy metals even more, if necessary.

The Baby Food Safety Act would also oblige facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold infant and toddler food to enforce specific plans to ensure their products comply with the safe limits on heavy elements. Lastly, the bill would make the Centers for Disease Control run awareness campaigns periodically about the dangers of heavy metals in baby food and children exposed to these neurotoxins.

 

Young beautiful woman with a tablet picks baby food in a supermarket, the girl is studying the composition of the product close-up

About the Author

As CFO at Environmental Litigation Group, Jonathan Sharp is responsible for managing firm assets, collecting and distributing funds, and financial analysis. The law firm, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, specializes in toxic exposure and assists parents whose children developed autism due to tainted baby food.



Fiddlehead_cutting_board_600px

First Foods for Spring

Food is our medicine. Foods not only provide nourishment for our body, they also nourish us emotionally and spiritually. Whether it be root foraging, harvesting wild fruits and nuts, procuring plant fibers for basket weaving, fishing, hunting, or gardening, these practices bond our spirit with the earth and make us feel whole. These practices also keep us connected as families by continuing traditions imperative for our health, livelihoods, and cultural survival.

3-Krystal_apple_EyeLevel_CROP-ADJ_800px

An Apple a Day Brings Pesticides Your Way

Today we’re partnering with Friends of The Earth to help them release a national study revealing unsafe levels of pesticides in commonly purchased grocery store foods, including data from Oregon. During late 2018, Beyond Toxics representatives participated in this research project by shopping at common grocery stores in Oregon, including Costco and Fred Meyer.

BeeCityUSA-website-Homepage_700px

Bee City Eugene - what's next?

By becoming a Bee City, The City of Eugene has formally acknowledged the importance of pollinators to healthy ecosystems and joined the national movement to protect and support our pollinators now and in the future. Bee Cities support collaboration to establish and maintain healthy pollinator habitats within city limits.

FranklinBumblebee_1515649357_400

Protect Oregon's bees and have a good time doing it!

Important action is being taken across our state to protect honey bees. However, the public is less aware of the critical role Oregon’s native bees play in pollination and maintaining the healthy environment we all enjoy – nor of the threats they face. Did you know eight different species of native bees are currently listed on the United States Endangered Species List?

BarbaraStorey_bee_SQ-CROP

Get on down for da’ bees!

Getting down for bees with jazz music, wine and food has everything to do with being a bee protector! We are celebrating bees with a fantastically fun event, but we aren’t joking about the real peril for pollinators. Bees are not safe in Oregon, or anywhere else in America. Eight species of native bees have very recently been put on the US Endangered Species List and are at the mercy of the Trump Administration.

The Bee, the Puppy and You!

This week national environmental leaders in bee protection, including Beyond Toxics, signed on to letters sent to Ace and True Value Hardware stores asking them to act now to protect bees! Our petition is for Ace and True Value to commit to not sell products containing systemic neonicotinoid pesticides harmful to bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife.

Portland joins Eugene as one of America's Most Bee-Friendly Cities!

Beyond Toxics’ idea to ask local governments to ban neonicotinoids started in Eugene with our proposal to the City Council. You remember...Eugene became “America’s Most Bee Friendly City!” in the early part of last year. Then the idea spread to Seattle, Spokane and Sacramento, as well as towns in Alaska, Minnesota and other states.

And today, the big news is that the Portland, Oregon has made good on their promise to Protect Portland’s Pollinators!

West Eugene bumble bee dead after neonic spray

Heartbreaking Day for Bees in Eugene during National Pollinator Week

Here it is summer time, when the flowers and trees are in bloom and jamborees of pollinators are busily buzzing in the flowers.  It is also National Pollinator Week, a time to celebrate what bees, butterflies and other blossom-visiting species contribute to a healthy environment.

But we in Eugene, Oregon are mourning the loss of thousands of bees today.

Join us on social media

Facebook_KA_160pxInstagram_KA_160pxYouTube_KA_160pxLinkedIn_KA_160px

Please join us in working for a world beyond toxics.

Beyond Toxics is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all contributions are fully tax-deductible.
Please consider giving a gift of a Beyond Toxics membership to a friend or family member!

logo-footer-white

Contact

Lane County Office
120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd.
Suite 280
Eugene, OR 97401

+1 (541) 465-8860

Jackson County Office
312 N. Main St., Suite B
Phoenix, Oregon 97535

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 1106
Eugene, OR 97440

Hours
Daily: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

info@beyondtoxics.org

Copyright 2024 © All Rights Reserved