Imagining life without bees

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/08/2022 (1259 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pollinators are in the news, as monarch butterflies have been added to the worldwide endangered species list. Colonies of honey bees are collapsing. The debate rages on about banning “neonic” pesticides that threaten bees and other pollinators.

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from flower to flower. It is critical for seed and fruit production. Some plants only need the wind or water to carry pollen. But many plants need bees, other insects, or other animals (e.g., bats, hummingbirds, lizards) to provide this essential service.

According to the Pollinator Partnership, “worldwide, approximately 1,000 plants grown for food, beverages, fibres, spices, and medicines need to be pollinated by animals in order to produce the goods on which we depend.”

Bees are the best-known pollinators. They fly from flower to flower, eating nectar for energy and collecting pollen to feed to their young.

Bees pollinate three-quarters of the world’s flowering plants. This is not just the pretty flowers. Bees pollinate 71 per cent of the 100 crops that provide 90 per cent of the world’s food, according to Friends of the Earth. They pollinate over 130 fruits and vegetables. It is said that bees pollinate one in three bites of the foods we eat.

So, what would the disappearance of bees mean to you and me?

Try this experiment for a week. Do not eat any foods that depend on bee pollination either directly or indirectly. Wikipedia has a good list if you need help.

Breakfast: No coffee, tea, or fruit juice. No avocado, fruit jams, or honey on your toast. No seasonal berries (blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries). No fruit (apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, bananas, kiwis, melons, mangos, or papaya). No refreshing watermelon or other melons. No lemon water. Less milk, eggs, yogurt, cheese, and sausage since chickens and cows eat plants that are pollinated by bees.

Other meals: No cabbage rolls, buckwheat, or beet soup. No tomatoes, onions, peppers, olives, or sauce for pizza. No tomatoes, pickles, or relish for burgers or hotdogs. No pumpkin or berry pies. There will be fewer vegetables to encourage your kids to eat. No asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, turnips, or beans.

Treats: No sugar. No vanilla for baking. No almond or cashew snacks. No chocolate! No coffee! No grapes, raisins, or wine! No tequila.

A week on a bee-free “have-not” diet should spur everyone to take action to save the bees. Next article, I will share some ways we can all help.