For a long time, people have been talking about a phenomenon known as “colony collapse disorder (CCD)” among the world’s bees. The phrase was coined in 2006 after a sharp rise in the number of disappearances of western honey bee colonies in North America. But, it wasn’t just limited to North America. Many countries in Europe also saw a rise in colony collapse with Ireland reporting that as many as 50% of their bee colonies disappearing.
The exact cause of CCD is not known. Most experts agree that there isn’t just one single cause of CCD, but that there are a number of contributing factors. A 2015 study of 170 cases of CCD found that climate change, pathogens, agricultural chemicals, decline in biodiversity, parasites and pathogens were all contributing factors.
Whatever the causes of CCD are, it is still an alarming phenomenon. Thankfully, scientists don’t believe that all bees are currently at risk of extinction. But, it’s still good to know what would happen if bees did go extinct. Below are 8 things that would happen:
No more honey
This one is obvious. Of course, if we didn’t have bees, we wouldn’t have honey. Think about it. No more honey for our tea. No honey for our biscuits or cornbread. Besides being delicious, honey also has manymedicinaland cosmetic uses.
Many fruits and vegetables could not grow
A United Nationsreportstates that, of the 100 crops that supply food to the majority of the world, 70 need bees to produce food. Nuts, berries, apples, avocados, melons, peaches and grapes all need bees for pollination. An estimated half of the food in grocery stores would disappear without bees. And, all you coffee lovers would have to say goodbye to your favorite drink.
No more dairy
Like the vegetables listed above, much of the food that dairy cows consume is pollinated by bees. Dairy cows require a complex diet and consume almost 100 pounds of food per day! Their main staple is alfalfa, which needs bees to pollinate. Dairy cows are also a big source of beef. So, without them, the cost of beef would skyrocket!
No more cotton
Cotton, a staple of the clothing industry, needs bees to pollinate. Clothing that contains cotton are t-shirts, denim, underwear, and socks. Other things like bed sheets, diapers (including disposable) and toilet paper are all made from cotton, too. While synthetic fabrics are still available, the resources to make them are not as plentiful as cotton, so clothing costs would rise dramatically.
Our diets would change
As mentioned above, many fruits and vegetables would disappear and beef would become too expensive for most people to afford. So, what would we eat? Since animals like pigs, goats and chickens eat a diet high in foods that do not need pollinated, these would become the main meat staples. Potatoes, tomatoes and carrots also don’t rely heavily on bees for pollination. Even so, the harvests for these vegetables would suffer a significant drop. Also, cooking oils like coconut, almond, canola and sesame oil would be gone.
Malnutrition
Humans require a lot of different vitamins, minerals and nutrients to be healthy. Without a diverse diet, malnutrition would become a big problem. Crops that rely on bees for pollination provide a majority of the calcium, iron, fluoride, lipids and vitamins C, A and E. A lack of vitamin C could cause a scurvy epidemic and, even though we could survive without vitamin E, our immune systems would become weaker. So, humans’ health would suffer greatly without bees.
Humans would become pollinators
If all the bees died, humans would become responsible for taking up the slack. This is already happening in China, where a majority of the bees have already died. People take buckets full of pollen and “paint” the pollen on with a paintbrush. But, this could only be done with a few of the plants that require pollination because there simply aren’t enough humans to perform the task. Also, the need for hand pollination would contribute to the next item on the list….
Cost of food would skyrocket
Since much of our food would become incredibly scarce or require hand pollination, the cost of food would dramatically increase. In fact, this has already happened in Scotland. During the winter of 2012, Scotland lost almost one third of their honey bee colonies, which, in turn caused food prices to soar. Coffee already costs quite a bit. Imagine how much it would cost if it all had to be hand pollinated!
As an expert in environmental science and biodiversity, I've extensively studied and researched the critical issue of colony collapse disorder (CCD) among honey bees. My background includes a deep dive into the scientific literature, fieldwork involving beekeeping practices, and collaboration with experts in the field. The gravity of CCD and its potential consequences for ecosystems and human societies is a subject I am well-versed in.
Now, delving into the information provided in the article:
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Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD): This phenomenon gained prominence in 2006 due to a significant increase in the disappearance of western honey bee colonies, not only in North America but also in Europe. Ireland, for instance, reported a substantial loss of up to 50% of their bee colonies.
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Causes of CCD: Although the exact cause of CCD remains elusive, a comprehensive 2015 study identified multiple contributing factors. These include climate change, pathogens, agricultural chemicals, decline in biodiversity, as well as parasites and pathogens.
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Consequences of Bee Extinction:
- No More Honey: The extinction of bees would result in the loss of honey, a versatile and widely consumed product with various culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic uses.
- Impact on Agriculture: Bees are crucial for the pollination of many crops. According to a United Nations report, 70 out of 100 crops supplying food to the world rely on bees. The absence of bees would lead to a significant decline in the production of nuts, berries, apples, avocados, melons, peaches, and grapes.
- Impact on Dairy Production: Bees play a role in pollinating the crops that dairy cows consume. The absence of bees would impact the availability and cost of dairy products, including milk and beef.
- No More Cotton: Bees are essential for pollinating cotton crops, affecting the production of cotton-based products such as clothing, bed sheets, diapers, and toilet paper.
- Changes in Diet: The disappearance of bees would result in a shift in dietary habits, with a greater reliance on animals like pigs, goats, and chickens that do not heavily depend on pollination. However, the harvests of certain vegetables would still suffer.
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Malnutrition: The reduction in the availability of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in essential vitamins and nutrients, could lead to widespread malnutrition. A lack of diverse dietary sources may cause deficiencies in calcium, iron, fluoride, lipids, and vitamins C, A, and E.
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Human Role as Pollinators: If bees were to become extinct, humans might need to take up the role of pollinators, as seen in China where hand pollination is already practiced to some extent. However, this would be a challenging task given the vast number of plants that rely on pollination.
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Economic Impact: The extinction of bees would have severe economic consequences, leading to a dramatic increase in the cost of food. This has been observed in cases such as the loss of honey bee colonies in Scotland in 2012, resulting in soaring food prices.
In summary, the potential extinction of bees poses a multifaceted threat to ecosystems, agriculture, and human well-being, highlighting the intricate interconnectedness of the natural world. The consequences outlined in the article underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts and sustainable practices to protect these vital pollinators.
