MAKING AGRICULTURE MORE BEE-FRIENDLY

With the majority of food crops being pollinated by bees, dwindling colonies pose a threat to agriculture. But while pesticides play a major role in declining bee numbers, monocultures and a lack of biodiversity are the greater problem. Lindi Botha spoke to industry leaders.

- Lindi Botha

Fruit orchards across South Africa are expanding rapidly, and it is estimated that the number of beehives available for pollination will have to double over the next decade to meet demand.

Calculations have shown that 65 000 hives are required for the deciduous fruit industry as it stands, with an additional 30 000 needed during the next decade as new orchards come into production. The seed and berry industries collectively require 50 000 hives over the next 10 years. The macadamia industry needs 160 000 beehives to optimally pollinate the current 40 000ha of macadamias, yet the industry is set to double in size over the next decade.

“As we don’t even have 160 000 hives in the entire country, the need to protect what we have has become crucial to ensure sustainable fruit crop production,” says Dr Hannelie Human of the University of Pretoria’s department of entomology and zoology. “Bees are as important as water to growing most of our food crops, so farmers should be as invested in bee health as they are in orchard health.”

REASONS FOR THE DECLINE

Pesticides have received much attention for their role in the decline in the number of bee colonies, but research points to insufficient forage opportunities as one of the main reasons.

Human notes that pollination depends on colony strength, and any reduction in the number of bees will reduce crop yield.

She adds that in addition to urbanisation, mining activities, air pollution, insecticides and declining natural food sources, farming is providing poorer-quality food for bees, as intensification of agriculture and monocultures limits nutrition for the insects.