Working together to save the indispensable honey bee

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Agrochemical companies are joining forces with universities, environmental protection bodies and amateur and professional beekeepers to help protect honey bee colonies from an increasing range of predators and threats

by NORMAN DUNN  

No one really sat up until bee researcher Fred Klockgether spelled out just how important his charges were to everyday farming. "Trials here in northern Europe have shown that just four hives in an average 20-hectare (50-acre) field of oilseed rape can increase yield by one tonne per hectare (405 kilograms per acre)."  

Before we could relax again, this scientist predicted that the current rate of mortality amongst bees could mean a 30 per cent reduction in oilseed yields throughout northern Europe. "It's even worse for crops such as apples," continued Klockgether, a specialist at Europe's new Bee Care Center, opened this September in Germany by agrochemical giant Bayer.

"Last year, we had an overwinter death rate amongst German honey bees of between 30 and 35 per cent. While I speak, the apple harvest is being taken in and, through the associated lack of insect pollination, we expect yield to be down by as much as 50 per cent."  

The survival problems for bees translate into million-dollar losses for European farming. Fred Klockgether told us that the bee contribution to crop profits in Germany alone adds up to C$2.4 billion with 80 per cent of garden flowers also depending on insect pollination.

We were all invited by Bayer to see its new centre dedicated to increasing bee survival rates. A similar institute is planned in North America by the company. Anyone who reads the newspapers over here knows that all crop spray manufacturers have been getting major stick for the huge losses among honey bee populations.

Is the new centre a knee-jerk reaction to all the agrochemical criticism? "No way," emphasized Dr. Christian Maus, the company's pollinator protection manager. "Admittedly there have been, and continue to be, some accidents with chemicals resulting in bee deaths. But we've been researching and supporting the role of bees in crop production for over a quarter of a century now."

Nor is Bayer alone in this. For instance, its scientists are involved in a separate "fit bee" campaign that has brought together major chemical players, universities, environmental protection bodies and amateur and professional beekeepers everywhere to find a way ahead for the honey sector.

"The 'fit bee' research has shown us that bee deaths can be dramatically reduced by improved hive hygiene, a comprehensive strategy with chemicals against the varroa and other pests, and more nectar and pollen sources for the bees," notes Dr. Maus.

The resultant "bee pastures," large tracts of blooming flowers in car parks and along highway verges, have become celebrated landmarks around the Bayer HQ – and part of a new deal for bees that has, in scientifically conducted tests, actually cut overwinter deaths from 30-35 per cent of hive populations down to four per cent in the best cases.

But the other 99 per cent of the honey bee world still needs to understand this approach and adapt their husbandry accordingly. And no one claims there's a straightforward answer for all regions. "One problem with the present massive overwintering deaths is that causes differ from region to region globally," explains Fred Klockgether, who, like many bee researchers, is also a keen amateur beekeeper with 30 colonies of his own.

"For instance, the varroa mite is certainly the main problem in weakening the resistance of bees in parts of Europe and in North America and the Far East. But the mite isn't a great problem in Australia (where, incidentally, bee performance and health remain high despite the same crop spray products as in Europe being applied)."

In Africa and South America, the so-called African-type honey bee breeds are naturally more tolerant of the varroa pest. Meanwhile, nosema seems to be the biggest problem in Spain. Over in France, the mite is rapidly being superseded by Asian hornets as the major honey bee problem.

This latest development spotlights just how vulnerable our bees are to imported problems. After all, the varroa mite crept into hives after being shipped in from the Far East. Now, the Asian hornet is next. This was brought into France in 2004, probably in potted plants from China. Five or six of the winged bandits are all it takes to bring a virtual halt to production in a single colony of honey bees. They hover outside the hive and pick off workers as they come back loaded with pollen. The bees are then understandably reluctant to continue their foraging work and production in the hive drops.

The hornets also invade hives, pulling grubs out of their combs and flying them back to their nests for feeding to their own young. By the end of 2004, three nests of Asian hornets had been spotted in southern France. Six years later, some 2,000 colonies were reported countrywide, and the pests had moved down into Spain and northwards across the Belgian border.

Beekeepers in France say that honey bee losses per colony due to the immigrant hornets can be as high as 70 per cent. There's therefore no doubt that the new Bee Care Centre and "fit bee" campaign – along with similar organizations in other European countries – will have their work cut out in the coming years. But these at least are positive steps towards ensuring survival of one of agriculture's most useful and profitable creatures. BF

Norman Dunn writes about European agriculture from Germany.