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Apples are one of the 21 main crops that utilize pesticide spraying, according to a study by the Economic Research Service and USDANew research on the impacts of neonicotinoid pesticides on bee health has given us important insight into the exact problems that can arise when bees are exposed to these chemicals. However, most of this research has been done in a laboratory setting and has not resulted in any concrete solutions…
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It’s August of 2015, I’m a passenger in a weathered but solid Toyota 4×4 truck. Elizabeth Ross, Executive Director of the Kasiisi Project, steers up steep dirt roads that overlook stunning muted green vistas of the late-dry-season in rural western Uganda. When we reach the Kasiisi Project Farm the farm’s…
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Neonicotinoid pesticides have become a divisive issue in recent years. On one side, pesticide advocates have emphasized it’s lack of lethal effects compared to other classes of chemicals. On the other, many papers have come out in the past decade linking neonicotinoids to a slew of health problems. Pesticides and…
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Although an unfamiliar term to most, “zootherapy”, the use of animals for medicinal purposes, has been a defining component of health and wellness traditions for the greater part of human history. In the modern era, development of advanced biotechnology and pharmaceuticals have mostly replaced this once common form of treatment.…
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Genetically modified (GMO) bees could be the long sought answer to the honey bee health crisis, but should they be? With bee populations struggling all across the globe due to a multitude of factors, there is a large demand for potential solutions. Some are looking at genetically modified bees as…
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Just 50 years ago scientific journals dismissed Manuka honey as a “worthless and harmful substance”. In fact, few researchers were willing to take it seriously due to a belief that honey was merely an alternative medicine. Within the past few years however, new evidence has been turning opinions. Recently, Manuka…
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Guest blog post by Eileen Guest. Convincing my kids to care about bees wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I try to engage with my boys when we go outside to play. However, I constantly find myself being drawn to my garden to pull one more weed…
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In the American agricultural industry, pesticides are often liberally applied to crops in order to help keep common pests away. One group of pesticide compounds called neonicotinoids is highly toxic to honeybees. They were first introduced in the 1980s by the chemical company Bayer, and as of 2008 comprise a…
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Starting the practice of beekeeping can be a daunting task, especially considering the dire state of bee populations worldwide today. Beekeepers in Johannesburg, South Africa, are facing the same declining bee populations that are being seen in the United States. Not only are South African honey bees afflicted by the…
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Recently a lot of attention has been given to breeding Varroa mite resistant honey bees. There has been concern, however, that this good-intentioned method could come with a downside. One main way honey bee workers deal with parasites is by socially grooming one-another. Researchers hope that we can create healthier…
