World Without Bees Picture Shows How Pollinators Affect Our Groceries

A world without bees is pictured by Whole Foods, and you probably wouldn’t like how your local grocery store would be effected.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, in a world without bees the world’s food supply would be hugely impacted.

Wild bumblebee populations around America are disappearing at rates, which are causing alarm for farmers. Bees and other native pollinators decreases could adversely impact crops during the coming growing season. The advantages offered by wild pollinators is reportedly surpass the benefits offered by domesticated pollinators.

Eric Mader, assistant pollinator conservation director at The Xerces Society, explains how a world without bees would affect farming:

“Pollinators are a critical link in our food system. More than 85 percent of earth’s plant species – many of which compose some of the most nutritional parts of our diet – require pollinators to exist. Yet we continue to see alarming declines in bee numbers. Our organization works with farmers nationwide to help them create wildflower habitat and adopt less pesticide-intensive practices. These simple strategies can tip the balance back in favor of bees.”

In a world without bees we’d see 237 out of 453 produce products removed, including apples, avocados, carrots, mangoes, lemons, eggplant, summer squash and a long list of other things. They are recommending people buy organic to support bee pollinators.

But why are bees disappearing? Bee studies revealed an 85 percent decline in queen production in bees exposed to pesticides. The pervasive use of clothianidin and imidacloprid and other pesticides have been linked to the rise in bee deaths since 2005, as the compound attacks the insects’ central nervous systems. Another study suggested bees are ingesting plants contaminated with toxic levels of aluminum and nickel.

What should we do to prevent a world without bees?