Over the course of the last several years, there have been many reports of honey bees dying all over the world. What many don’t realize, though, is that the consequences of this phenomenon could be quite dire if they aren’t averted.

The Honey Bee Industry is as Important as it is Expensive

We all know that industries like the entertainment and technology industries are making a ton of cash…but what most don’t also realize is that the honey bee industry is a $30 million economy in the United States alone. This means that honey bees are an important commodity, and they’re responsible for the pollination of a lot of the fruits and vegetables that people all over the world rely on for food. Not only could the sharp increase in bee mortality be damaging to an important part of the US economy, but it could also put the world’s supply of fruits and vegetables in serious jeopardy if we don’t find a way to address the issue as quickly as possible.

Colony Collapse Disorder has Continued Since 2006

The bees that have been affected by what’s known as CDC, or Colony Collapse Disorder, are typically relied upon for the pollination for more than 100 different fruits and vegetables. It’s easy to understand, then, why it would be a pretty significant problem if these honey bees were to suddenly die off. Still, this seems to be exactly what’s happening. Honey bees are dying by the tens of millions, and scientists aren’t actually able to figure out exactly why it’s happening. In the last six years alone, Colony Collapse Disorder has done in more than 10 million bee hives, which equates to about two million dollars in losses. And it’s going to get a lot worse if it’s allowed to continue.

The Death Rate Continues to Rise

At this point, the Colony Collapse Disorder problem has created a death rate of 30% on an annual basis. Currently, there are about two and a half million hives in the world. There were six million in 1947, and three million in 1990. If this sharp decline is allowed to continue, the world will quickly find itself without the number of bees necessary to pollinate its various agricultural crops. Should this become the case, demand will increase the rates at which bees are able to pollinate crops, and a serious food supply problem might very well arise. Scientists hope this crisis can be averted, but are, at present, coming up short on reasons as to how to go about doing so.

The Cause is as Yet Unknown

Some scientists believe that extra-harsh pesticides are to blame for the sharp decline in the bee population. Others believe that might be another factor, like a parasite carrying some type of particularly vicious disease. Still others believe it might be something more like malnourishment. Whatever the case may be, the scientific community definitely agrees that a solution must be settled upon, and quickly. The sudden uptake in Colony Collapse Disorder has cause the bee population of the world to dwindle in a serious way. If this continues, it might mean dire consequences for the human race. Above Image Source: Flickr/Brandon Grasley