With the global population expected to rise over 9 billion by 2050, the efficiency with which we grow our food will become increasingly critical if we hope to reduce our detrimental carbon footprint, but also sustain enough crops to feed the world. If the end goal is crop sustainability and avoiding a global famine, the vital aspect of our ecosystem that proposes a solution to both of these rising global issues is the honey bee.
Without the honey bees pollination efforts, the yields for the majority of crops grown in the US would be too low to be profitable. Through a network of commercial beekeepers located globally, farmers are able to get access to this vital pollinating resource naturally provided by local honey bees in order to farm profitably and feed the world’s population.
However, since 2006 bee populations have been steadily declining from colony collapse disorder, reduced habitat, lack of economic sustainability and climate change. The future of the honey bee is crucial because their existence largely impacts and influences human food production. Accordingly, our global ecosystem and entire human existence will constantly be in question if the threat towards this small, but mighty species continues.
I was able to sit down with Greg Shved, Founder and CEO of Exchange Bees, one of America’s largest beekeeping networks, to learn more about the beekeeping industry and the threatening economic impact that COVID-19 has brought to beekeepers around the nation. We also discuss how we will be impacted moving forward if we do not make a collective effort to save the bees.
1. Tell us about your background and why bees?
Because “no bees, no human existence”. I was born into a family of beekeepers in Sacramento, CA. My grandfather has always been my biggest role model and inspiration. He first brought me to the almond orchards in 2004, where I experienced my first almond pollination season as a Beekeeper. I was able to see just how critical the honey bees’ pollination efforts were to the entire agricultural process. I’ve been his right hand man ever since then, helping him with everything from honey production to delivering honey bees to the orchards in the Central Valley of California.
My grandfather’s research which he’s been collecting to improve the use of honey bees during almond pollination initially inspired me to start my own company, Exchange Bees, in 2016. His data made one thing crystal clear: I needed to invest into in-hive and thermal technology to further continue his research. It opened my eyes to the multiple opportunities I could provide for Almond Growers to increase their crop yields and decrease overall cost of pollination. Without a reliable source of honey bees, crops would not be able to achieve the high yields they do today. Low crop yields caused by lack of pollination in turn would put smaller farmers out of business, drive the cost of crops dependent on honey bees up and reduce the amount of food available to a growing global population.
2. How many beehives do you manage?
Currently, our beekeeping group manages 17,000 beehives throughout Northern California and we are expanding every year to meet growing demand from farmers. Throughout the year, we produce honey for over 120 Raleys, Safeway, and other CA grocery stores. We also provide pollination services to growers of various crops in California’s Central Valley. For almond pollination, we contract an additional 42,000 beehives in order to meet the demand set by California almond growers for their annual almond pollination.
3. Why are honey bees important for food production?
It is estimated that honey bees are responsible for pollinating one third of the food we eat around the globe. A majority of fruits, vegetables and some tree nuts (including almonds) are all dependent on the honey bee for pollination. Think about it like this: in the US, the food production system is a pyramid. At the very top of this pyramid is the food that you eat, at the very bottom sits the honey bee. If honey bee colony populations continue to decline without a corresponding expansion of commercial beekeeping, then US crop yields could very likely drop to the point where it could cause a global famine.
4. What are your feelings about the Asian Giant Hornet’s threat to bee hive populations?
The Asian Giant Hornet is a pretty scary threat, if it were to tear down all the honey bee colonies we have in the US. Unfortunately, the European Honey Bees are the breed which commercial beekeepers use in the US, and they do not have any defense mechanism against the Asian Giant Hornet. In my opinion, I don’t see the Asian Giant Hornet being able to spread fast enough throughout the entire country without us consistently destroying their nests. It can only become a problem if we are not actively trying to eradicate them in the U.S.
5. Can American Beekeepers adapt to the economic effects brought by COVID-19?
In short, the American Honey market is the largest threat to our nation’s honey bees. Americans consume four times the honey that we produce in the U.S. However, even prior to COVID-19, the American Honey market was declining due to large imports of foreign honey. Many domestic commercial beekeeping operations are thus having to stockpile their honey because packers prefer imported honey due to its low cost. This impacts our beekeepers’ cash flow which in turn increases the risk that they will not have enough money to continue taking care of their bees. I hope to lobby for better honey laws in favor of American Beekeepers, so they are able to sell all of their honey crop. Just like sugar has tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) to influence the amount of sugar available to the U.S. market, we should have the same program in place for honey. Without this program, suppliers are able to import honey without limit and sell at half the price American Beekeepers need to sell honey to stay in business.
6. What are some known health benefits of honey?
Compared to stevia, white sugar, and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame which hold little to no nutritional benefit, raw honey is a superfood rich in nutrients and antioxidants. It also contains antiviral and antibacterial properties, which are beneficial for the immune system. It is known to help improve cholesterol and even lower triglycerides. Overall, honey holds a plethora of benefits for human health that range from cancer prevention, easing digestive issues, and even reducing the risk of heart disease, to name a few. More recently, Manuka Honey has been discovered to contain a bio active rating that has been independently validated in labs to help heal exterior burns and wounds due to naturally occurring peroxide activity levels.
7. What can we do to better protect this vital part of our ecosystem?
There are many different ways we can each help save the bees in the US. The most effective way would be to purchase only locally produced honey. This not only benefits your local honey bees, but also helps with allergies as the pollen is collected from your region. When purchasing honey in the grocery store you are usually given a few options, some honey on that shelf will come from local beekeepers and some is imported. The bottle will say on the front or back where the origin of honey is and where it’s bottled.