The most popular theory behind the cause of
Examining Colony
Collapse Disorder and its
Implications on our World
The Bee is usually seen as a vicious pest,
pesky bother, and source of injury.
However, the bee is vital to our survival as a
human species. So vital, in fact, that we can
contribute one out of every three bites of
food we eat to the workings of a pollinating
honeybee.i They are crucial for supporting
our ecosystem and our economy.
Unfortunately, within the last decade, in
some instances the bee population has
declined upwards to 70 percent.ii This is due
to Colony Collapse Disorder, a disease that
originates from an unknown cause. In order
to save our bees, we ask policy makers to
limit budget cuts to the EPA and push for
strict federal legislation that regulates the
treatment of the pollinators in our
ecosystem.
The Cause:
A phenomenon known as Colony Collapse
Disorder (CCD) is currently destroying
thousands of North American honeybee
hives, generating the destruction of 30 to 90
percent of beekeeping colonies since 2006.iii
CCD destroys the colonies by causing the
adult worker bees to abandon their hive, not
only leaving behind a significant amount of
food, but also leaving behind their queen. iv
One of the main problems surrounding this
disorder is the fact that researches are
uncertain of what exactly causes CCD.
Although there are many theories, the
science community has yet to determine a
sole cause.
CCD is the overuse of pesticides (especially
pesticides that include imidacloprid).
Pesticides pose the greatest risk to
pollinators because it is the most direct risk;
however, there are other suggestions for
why the bees are declining. These include
industrial agriculture, disease, parasites,
climate-change, management stress, poor
genetic biodiversity, and chemical use.iii
Humans are at Risk, Too:
Bees are necessary in our world because
they are the most prevalent and
economically important group of pollinators
in most geographical regions. Bees pollinate
more efficiently than birds, bats, and other
insects.v Since bee colonies are comprised of
many workers up to 80,000 bees per
colony bees are able to pollinate a
considerably large amount of land within a
short amount of time. Similarly, the role of
wild pollinators (including both bee species
and other insects) are gaining relevance
worldwide.v
Without insect pollination, up to 75% of our
crops would decrease in productivity. Yet,
despite the fact that some plant species have
adapted the ability to self-pollinate, on
average, still 80% of plant production
requires the help of pollinators.vi
For example, a range of fruit and vegetable
crops are 90 percent sometimes even more
reliant on insects for pollination. Foods
such as almonds, apples, avocados,
blueberries, broccoli, carrots, onions,
legumes, and others would decrease their
yield to less than 10 percent if the bee were
to become extinct. vi On top of that, the rising
world population is attributing to an
increasing demand for honeybee pollination
services, and is outpacing the availability of
the colonies.v
If, eventually, bees do become extinct, some
plants, such as potatoes, corn, and carrots
would be able to survive, but with a
significantly lower production rate.
Nevertheless, our nutrient-rich foods such as
berries and apples would be extensively
harder to harvest. v Without our bees, more
than one third of our food staples we rely on
would no longer be available. vii
Solutions to the growing bee problem
have already been tested in some parts of
our world.
For example, in China, pear farmers have
begun to resort to human pollination. In
order to do this, farmers must go to each
plant and pollinate each blossom
individually with brushes and pots of
pollen.viii
Although this is one answer to the problem,
the practicality of the issue remains in
question. If this solution was enacted, it
would indubitably require a sheer amount of
manpower, and would be far costlier than
letting the bees do the jobs themselves.
Its More than Just Fruits and Veggies:
The decline in bees cause retributions that
far surpass that of just dwindling supplies of
fruits and vegetables. Bees also pollinate our
animals food, particularly food for our
cows and pigs. Since a majority of cattles
diet comes from grazing on wild grasses
filled with clover and alfalfa (two plants that
require pollination)ix, our cows would be
forced to search for new food sources or
face starvation. This would not only lessen
the number of cattle available for
consumption, but also the availably of dairy
products such as milk and cheese.
Although one resolution to this problem
could be providing corn and grain to our
cows ourselves, in the autumn and winter
seasons, grain is already particularly
scarce.ix This would force farmers to search
for new food sources, creating additional
costs and labor for them.
Bees, of course, also contribute directly to
society with products made from their
honey, wax, and resins. Bee wax is used in
America for candle-making, and for
ingredients in ointment, soaps, and
medications.x Additionally, although honey
is most noted for its use in food and as
sweeteners, its also a valuable beauty and
medicinal commodity throughout the world.
It can heal cuts and scrapes, burns, sore
throats, clear acne, and can even remove
dandruff.xi According to 2010 USDAs
Economic Research Service, America
consumes about 410 million pounds of
honey annually.xii
An Economic Standpoint:
Bees also contribute to society monetarily,
for honeybees are estimated to contribute
over $15 billion annually to the U.S.
economy.xiii Likewise, through honey,
beeswax, and other beehive products, the
bees contribute just under 200 billion U.S.
dollars to the global economy each year. xiv
Unfortunately, beekeepers in the U.S. have
together lost an estimated 10 million
beehives, approximated at a value of $200
each. Due to the loss, the rates of renting
honeybee hives have increased. In 2003, a
cost for renting a hive for pollination was a
mere $50. In 2009, the costs were as high as
$175.xiii
The decline in bees not only negatively
affects our blue-collared workers, but on a
greater scale, impacts our national and
global economy.
Institutions Taking Action:
Currently, the saving the bee initiative has
received a lot of attention and media
coverage. Most recently, Honey Nut
Cheerios started a bring back the bees
campaign where they encouraged citizens
around the world to participate in planting
wildflowers. As part of the campaign, they
have also released commercials highlighting
the value of our bees, and in select stores,
have removed food items that bees have
pollinated from the shelves. So far, Honey
Nut Cheerios has given away over 100
million seeds, and continues to ship seeds
around the world. xv
Although for the most part the initiative
received positive reviews, Honey Nut
Cheerios did receive some backlash.
Cheerios failed to account for invasive plant
species in their flower mix, so in some
American states, it was technically illegal
for citizens to plant them.
Luckily, there are other environmental
organizations out there to help solve this
problem and educate the public. An
organization named Greenpeace encourages
consumers to buy organic food from local
farmers and encourages community
members to set up their own beekeeping
hives in their backyards.
First Lady Michelle Obama did exactly this
in 2009, when she planted an organic garden
at the White House. She added a beehive to
help the plants and vegetables grow.xvi
One organization, called The Bee Cause,
also promotes awareness for CCD by
distributing grants to schools. Rosa Park, a
Michigan Elementary School, received a
$1,500 grant, and is just one example of the
1,000 schools they have placed beehives in
across the U.S. According to The Bee Cause,
the goal of their mission is for kids to learn
about honeybees and the science behind
pollination and hive building. xvii
However, even with the increasing amount
of media coverage CCD is receiving, the
problem still remains, and will remain until
policies are passed in order to generate
change.
Legislation Enacted in the Past:
Since the first mentions of CCD in 2006,
little has been done to successfully stop the
growing problem. The policies that have
been created to solve CCD over the last few
years have proven to be ineffective.
The EPAs Role:
One of the first instances of government
intervention for CCD occurred in 2009,
when the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), which is a part of the federal
government responsible for protecting the
environment by enforcing regulations,
conducted a study to find out if insecticides
contribute to CCD.xviii
The EPAs study determined that in
particular, Bayers imidacloprid does, in
fact, affect honeybee health. However, the
study was faulty, for it only addressed one
out of the five known neonicotinoids, but it
failed to mention the four other known
neonicotinoids that also have potential to
affect honeybee health. xix
Following the EPA proposal, a lawsuit filed
by environmental groups and beekeepers
stated that the assessment of neonicotinoids
was unfair because it failed to evaluate them
in their most popular form: seed coatings,
which are sold to farmers, usually
possessing a blue coating on them. As the
plant ages, the neonicotinoid coating grows
with the plant, eliminating the need for
spraying other pesticides.xx
Obamas Memorandum:
Other actions taken by policy makers
include President Barack Obamas
memorandum issued in order to establish a
Pollinator Health Task Force, co-chaired by
the USDA and the EPA almost 10 years
after farms and ecologists first began to
complain about bee deaths and pesticide use.
Some examples the memorandum proposed
include encouraging public research projects
and public education programs, and
increasing and improving pollinator
habitats.xxi
However, the plan was deemed ineffective.
Although it focused on increasing pollinator
habitat, public education, and research, the
strategy was flawed because it
simultaneously encouraged growth in habitat
while continuing to allow pesticides that
contaminate landscapes.xxii
It is evident that the policies endorsed by our
current officials are not strong enough or
effective enough to enact change. In the
past, the policies created were approved
years after they were originally proposed,
and once put into action, they did little to
help.
Legislation with Positive Consequences:
So far, only a small fraction of states have
attempted to enforce any bee-saving laws,
but the laws that have been introduced in
these states have shown promise.
Nine states (California, Connecticut,
Kentucky, Massachusetts,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington) have taken
action to fund research to study
issues related to pollinator health,
Five states (California, Connecticut,
Kentucky, Minnesota, Washington)
have enacted legislation to protect
and restore habitat suitable for
pollinators.xxiii
On a federal level, there have recently been
two bills passed that highlight the problems
associated with CCD:
The Saving Americas Pollinators
Act of 2015 directs the EPA to take
actions related to pesticides that may
affect pollinators. The bill touches on
key tasks such as suspending the
registration of neonicotinoid
pesticides, completing field studies
examining the residue of repeated
applications and their cumulative
effects on native pollinators, and
withholding new registrations for
seed, foliar treatment, and soil
application on bee-attractive plants
and trees until the EPA has
determined their impacts. xxiv
The Highways, Bettering the
Economy and Environment
Pollinator Protection Actxxv is a bill
introduced in June of 2015 that
authorizes the cost of improving
habitats and forage for pollinators on
rights-of- way adjacent to certain
highways.
Calling for Change:
While these last two laws seem promising,
not enough information has been collected
yet to truly determine the effects the bills
have had, leaving many problems still
untouched.xxiv
However, we do know that the laws enacted
on state levels have caused positive
outcomes for our bees.
Thus, it is important that we legislate these
laws on a national level.
Furthermore, it is more prevalent now than it
has ever been to increase funds for
researching CCD. Unfortunately, the new
Trump administration is planning to cut
EPA funding by 31 percent. xxvi It is clear
that there is still a lot of uncertainty
surrounding Colony Collapse Disorder, and
in order to protect our bees from extinction,
we must continue to study the disease.
Overall, due to the overwhelming evidence
that the decline in bees is affecting our
world population, and since there is a proven
strong correlation between neonicotinoids
and other pesticides, policy makers should
consider:
1. Banning the use of bee-harming
pesticides. Especially pesticides that
include the seven top harmful
chemicals including imidacloprid,
thiamethoxam, clothianidin, fipronil,
chlorpyriphos, cypermethrin and
deltamethrin.
2. Heightening conservation of natural
and semi-natural habitats. Habitats
surrounding agricultural landscapes
in particular would make a vast
difference. Furthermore, passing
laws that would work to enhance
 biodiversity within agricultural
fields.

3. Supporting and encouraging

agricultural practices that benefit
pollination services within
agricultural systems. This would
include crop rotation, organic
farming, and ecological focus areas
at farm level.

And perhaps most importantly,

4. Increasing funding for research and

development.

Final remarks:

While many environmental organizations,

educational establishments, and beekeepers
are continuously making advancements
toward the awareness and prevention of
Colony Collapse Disorder, the current
situation in the agricultural industry and
their relationship with governmental
agencies has resulted in the inability to
provide honeybees and their beekeepers
with and sufficient response to the issue at
hand.

Without our help, the bee population will

continue to shrink until the entire species
themselves becomes extinct.

And, of course, without the services

honeybees provide for us, the final
consequence would perhaps be the biggest
famine the worlds populations have ever
seen.
i xv
"Pollinators." Pollinators | Pollinator
Partnership. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
ii "The Bees in Decline." The Bees in
Decline. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
iii "The Causes." The Bees in Decline. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
v Champion |. "What's the buzz? Elementary
"Pollination." Native Plants and Ecosystem
Services. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
vi "A review of factors that put pollinators
and agriculture in Europe at risk." Bees In
Decline (2013): 2-43. Greenpeace. Web.
vii
"Why Bees Are Important to Our Planet."
One Green Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr.
2017.
viii "Decline of bees forces China's apple
farmers to pollinate by hand." China
Dialogue. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
ix "Pollination: A Vital and Threatened
Ecosystem Service." Science Summary .
Seeds, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
x "Beeswax - useful and valuable product."
Beekeeping and sustainable livelihoods.
N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xi Medical Daily, Liquid Gold: 7 Health
Benefits of Honey That Could Heal Your
Whole Body. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xii Board, National Honey. "Honey."
National Honey Board. N.p., n.d. Web. 11
Apr. 2017.
xiii "Fact Sheet: The Economic Challenge
Posed by Declining Pollinator Populations."
National Archives and Records
Administration. National Archives and
Records Administration, n.d. Web. 11 Apr.
2017.
xiv "Economic Value of Commercial
Beekeeping." Burros, Marian. "Obamas to
Plant Vegetable Garden at White House."
The New York Times. The New York
Times, 19 Mar. 2009. Web. 11 Apr.
2017.Pesticide Action Network North
America (2015): n. pag. Beyond Pesticides.
Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
"Wheres Buzz the Bee?"
BringBackTheBees. Honey Nut Cheerios ,
n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xvi Burros, Marian. "Obamas to Plant
Vegetable Garden at White House." The
New York Times. The New York Times, 19
Mar. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xvii Bchampio@mlive.com, Brandon
school's beehive will be second in
Michigan." MLive.com. N.p., 01 Apr. 2016.
Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xviii "Our Mission and What We Do." EPA.
Environmental Protection Agency, 28 Mar.
2017. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xix Tomphilpott. "The EPA finally admitted
that the world's most popular pesticide kills
bees-20 years too late." Mother Jones. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xx Gurian-Sherman, Doug. "Hidden Costs of
Toxic Seed Coatings. Insecticide Use on
the Rise." Center for Food Safety (2015): n.
pag. Web.
xxi "EPA Actions to Protect Pollinators."
EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 12
Jan. 2017. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xxii "White House Plan Does Little to Take
the Sting Out of Pollinator Declines."
Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog. N.p.,
20 May 2015. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xxiii
"Pollinator Health ." National Conference
of State Legislation . NCSL, 11 May 2016.
Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xxiv Conyers, John. "H.R.1284 - 114th
Congress (2015-2016): Saving America's
Pollinators Act of 2015." Congress.gov.
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xxv Hastings, Alcee. "H.R.2738 - 114th
Congress (2015-2016): Highways Bettering
the Economy and Environment Pollinator
Protection Act." Congress.gov. N.p., 12 June
2015. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.
xxvi Cnbc. "White House seeks to slash EPA
budget 31%." CNBC. CNBC, 16 Mar. 2017.
Web. 11 Apr. 2017.