The stable work of US agriculture is fundamental to the country’s food security. Farmers produce products necessary for the survival of millions of citizens. However, crops’ harvest and condition depend on numerous environmental factors. For this reason, it is vital to preserve the balance in nature and avoid radical changes in factors affecting farming. Unfortunately, a severe food security problem has recently been observed as the honeybee population continues to decline. Considering this insect’s critical role in nature and farming, further deterioration of the situation might become challenging for US farmers.
The major problem arising from the declining honeybee population is the reduced pollination effectiveness. It is a fundamental ecosystem function critical for plant reproduction and the agricultural sector (Rhodes, 2018). Research shows that around 88% of flowering plants globally and three-quarters of food crops depend on the effectiveness of pollination (Rhodes, 2018). The process implies the transfer of pollen from a male flower to a female one, which creates the basis for fertilization and contributes to the emergence of fruits or seeds (Rhodes, 2018). The bigger part of plants is pollinated by insects, meaning they are a critical part of the cycle, and the substantial reduction in their quantity might precondition undesired outcomes.
In the US agricultural sector, honeybees are the most important pollinators. The relevant statistics show that more than 100 crops in the state rely on this insect (Grossman, 2013). The analysis of farming in the country shows that the added revenue to crop production because of the pollinators’ activity is about $18 billion (Nowierski, 2021). At the same time, according to official reports, more than 700 North American bee species can become extinct in the closest future (Bedada, 2020). The number of honeybee colonies has reduced from 5 million in the 1940s to only 2,6 million nowadays (Bedada, 2020). It threatens the whole agricultural sector and food security in the state. Additionally, the decline in the honeybee population impacts farmers and their activities.
The change in the population of honeybees popularized the practice of renting beehives. Recent statistics show that farmers in the US rent about two million honey beehives annually from official beekeepers (Kleinman & Suryanarayanan, 2020). It helps to support the desired level of pollination and guarantees the necessary level of harvest (Kleinman & Suryanarayanan, 2020). The increased yield and crop quality linked to this activity are valued at around $15 billion, evidencing honeybees’ importance (Kleinman & Suryanarayanan, 2020). However, the beekeepers report the mass extinction of these insects. It increases the rental prices per bee colony and makes farming more expensive, increasing food costs (Bedada, 2020). It also means renting honeybees might become less effective, and new solutions will be required to address and resolve the problem.
Statistics evidence the topicality of the problem and the necessity to resolve it. More than 130 farms in the USA growing apples, cherries, almonds, and watermelon report that crops demonstrate lowered yields because of the smaller bee populations (Bedada, 2020). They also report more problematic access to beekeepers (Bedada, 2020). It becomes a serious challenge to the whole agricultural sector. The extensive use of agricultural chemicals, mono-cropping, and intensive farming practices are considered central factors affecting the honeybee population (Rhodes, 2018). For this reason, today, farmers are concerned about reducing pesticide use as one of the possible ways to save these insects and restore their sufficient quantity (Rhodes, 2018). It is expected to slow the pace of insect extinction and help restore their populations.
Moreover, the US agricultural sector responds to the honeybee decline by introducing new pollinator health-related projects. For instance, the honeybee hive monitoring system is tested to control these insects’ population and provide the necessary changes in employed practices to avoid mass extinction (Nowierski, 2021). The major stakeholders’ collaboration is another response to the problem of ineffective pollination. Beekeepers, farmers, and scientists cooperate to determine the best practices to restore balance and avoid critical losses (Kleinman & Suryanarayanan, 2020). Planting diverse crops and restoring natural habitats are effective measures to address the problem.
Altogether, statistics show that the US agricultural sector faces a severe problem because of the honeybee population decline. The mass extinction is linked to changes in environmental factors, the use of pesticides and chemicals, and intensive farming. These factors impact the natural balance and reduce the effectiveness of pollination. The effects of bees’ death are already visible as farmers report decreased yields, increased spending for growing crops, and guaranteeing that the required amount of food will be produced. For this reason, there is an attempt to reduce the usage of pesticides, align collaboration with the major stakeholders, and avoid unwise farming practices. However, the problem remains topical, meaning that there is a need for radical and effective measures to save the agricultural sector.
References
Bedada, A. (2020). Bee decline – A great concern for US food security. University of Minnesota. Web.
Grossman, E. (2013). Declining bee populations pose a threat to global agriculture. Yale. Web.
Kleinman, D. L., & Suryanarayanan, S. (2020). Pollinating collaboration: Diverse stakeholders’ efforts to build experiments in the wake of the honey bee crisis.Science, Technology, & Human Values, 45(4), 686–711. Web.
Nowierski, R. (2021). Pollinators at a crossroads. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Web.
Rhodes, C. (2018). Pollinator decline an ecological calamity in the making?Science Progress, 101(2), 121-160. Web.