Honeybees and Food Security

Honeybees and Food Security Decreasing Number of Honeybee Colonies in the US 5 million- 4 million- 3 million- 2 million- 1 million- 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 In the 1940s, Honeybee colonies were estimated to be around 5 million In 2006, Beekeepers first Sounded the alarm about decreasing bee populations Honey Production in Pounds 250 million $5.7 Billion is the global economic cost of bee decline Honeybee pollina- tion is responsible for one out of three bites of food 200 million 150 million 100 million 50 million 1970 • .. . • 2011 Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is responsible all bee loss Hobby Beekeeping is on the Rise According to Steve Nofs, president of the Georgia Beekeepers' Association, as quoted in The Telegraph, there are 1,500 commercial beekeepers in the US compared to 200,000 hobbyists. one third of The USDA cites the following reasons for CCD: 1. Pathogens 2. Parasites 3. Management stressors 4. Environmental stressors Food Security across Population Food Secure Low Food Security Very Low Food Security 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 20 million 40 million 60 million 80 million 100 million 120 million Demographics of US Bee Colony Owners as identified by 2007 Census White operators (83%) Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino Women principal operators American Indian, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian| Asian or African American Source: USDA.gov, Census.gov, and The Telegraph