In the process of cross pollinating the flowers, seeds formed to produce offspring which became our modern sources of food.
Up until then, most cross pollination was effected by wind which had many draw backs precluding the evolution of most of our favourite fruits such as pumpkins, apples, peaches, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, almonds and the ubiquitous F1 hybrid tomato for example.
Bees are the most important pollinators and it is estimated that should they be destroyed by our dependence on mono-culture driven production systems that require increasing reliance upon pesticides we could loose up to 30% of our food supply.
In the SBS programme, presenter Bill Turnbull demonstrated how a breakfast without bees would mean no milk (because bees pollinate pastures) no tea or coffee, no fruit (except bananas, citrus and pineapple). Imagine eating cereals without milk, tea or coffee.
If we put it in the perspective of world affairs the collapse of our modern bee populations is as significant as devastating infectious disease and the spread of ISIS in the Middle East. So it is vital that we explore the causes and find solutions urgently.
IN AUSTRALIA THERE ARE PRESENTLY 37 REGISTERED NEONIC INSECTICIDES
Known causes: The Varroa Mite
Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is caused by the insect Varroa mite which spreads a virus that kills the bees. CCD has been likened to the ‘canary in the coal mine’ in the sense that our modern food production systems operate as if insects are dispensable.
How stupid is that? In Europe and North America some bee keepers have lost over 40% of hives with deaths in the worst hives reaching 96%. When summer temperatures fall below 14°C or flowers don't open during wet springs, bees are unable to get enough nectar. Food starvation weakens the bee and it is not able to survive through winter, then being an easy target for mites which spread the virus that kills them.
Neonico Tinoid Pesticides
Produced by Bayer (originally Shell), this nerve agent is a derivative of tobacco. It affects a bee's brain and upsets their memory, making them unable to return to the hive or find nectar. In Europe this pesticide has been banned for 2 years whilst its impact is analysed, but it is still unrestricted in Australia where it is also used as a coating on broad acre canola seed.
Some scientists maintain that the loss of crops from its prohibited use might cause more crop damage than the impact it has on bees so that's why the ban is only for 2 years.
Destruction of habitat
It stands to reason that if bees co-evolved with flowering plants then if we destroy their biodiverse habitat and replace it with green deserts (i.e. monocrops of wheat, corn, canola or soy beans) then food sources of bees and other insects dry up and populations decline.
Fortunately we can restore their food sources (i.e. habitat) on the verge just by planting flowers for about 5% of the planted area to provide food for bees near by the forage area to re-establish populations.
Summary
The jury is out about the final solution but as all organic farmers know, if we live in harmony with nature by supporting biodiversity then we don't need pesticides, as we have proven over 20 years at Heronswood. But if we continue to support green deserts using industrial monoculture practices then these short term fixes will never be a complete solution.
