Taking a New Look at Bee Health

Honey bees, like crop production, are vital to farming and food production. While bee health is a concern, multiple sources dispute the claim that honey-bee populations are declining.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported that the overall population has actually increased 10 percent since 2006, and Statistics Canada data show that the honey-bee colony totals for the past two years are the highest since 1987. Global bee populations have been steadily increasing for more than a decade, according to the latest report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

While beekeepers still face challenges in sustaining healthy hives, the evidence suggests there is no direct correlation between proper neonicotinoid use and poor bee health. "I really don't see a problem with neonicotinoids," says Lee Townsend, vice president of TPLR Honey Farms in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada. "Based on the misinformation in the media, we should be seeing a bee apocalypse, but that's not happening."

Syngenta is proud to be part of the Honey Bee Health Coalition, which is focused on hive management, best-management practices for crop protection products and finding ways to provide more forage. The company is also involved in many other stewardship initiatives, including Operation Pollinator, an international biodiversity program that Syngenta launched to boost the number of pollinating insects on commercial farms. "It's important to work with beekeepers and others in the industry to find solutions to bee health," says Caydee Savinelli, Ph.D., pollinator and IPM stewardship lead for Syngenta. "The ability of growers to manage their pest populations while maintaining bee health is the ultimate goal and requires commitment of all stakeholders in order to be successful."