U.S. honeybee deaths soar, and grocery store bills could take the hit
Honey bee populations in the U.S. are dwindling at an unprecedented rate, a trend that could affect Americans' wallets at the grocery checkout line.
Beekeepers across the country are sounding the alarm as honeybee populations are dwindling at an unprecedented rate, a trend that could affect Americans' wallets at the grocery store.
Honeybees are the backbone of the food ecosystem, pollinating 75% of the world's natural supplies, according to the National Park Service. But a recent nationwide survey by Project Apis m., a nonprofit group that supports beekeeping science, found “catastrophic” honeybee declines across the industry.
Commercial operators reported an average loss of 62% from June to February nationwide.
“These alarming losses, which surpass historical trends, could significantly impact U.S. agriculture, particularly crop pollination for almonds, fruits, vegetables, and other essential food sources,” the survey said.
Elina L. Niño, who runs the Bee Health Hub at the University of California, Davis, said researchers have not determined why so many bees have died in the past year.
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