The hidden truth about beekeeping: Another case of greenwashing

As awareness about environmental sustainability increases, many industries, including beekeeping, are presenting themselves as eco-friendly. However, sometimes this image doesn’t fully match the reality. Although beekeeping is often seen as important for agriculture and biodiversity, it can occasionally fall short of its green claims.

Hello, I’m Titanilla, a holistic beekeeper, historian and death doula based in Scotland. In this blog, I’ll explore various studies on beekeeping practices and their impacts. A resource list for these studies is included at the end. If you find this information valuable, connect with me on social media for more buzz-worthy content.

The Reality Behind Modern Beekeeping

Modern commercial beekeeping practices often prioritise profit over the well-being of bees and the environment. In many large-scale operations, the focus is on maximising honey production and efficiency, sometimes at the expense of the bees' health and their natural habitats. Issues such as overcrowded hives, the use of chemical treatments, and the constant transport of colonies for pollination services can stress the bees and disrupt local ecosystems. While these practices can lead to increased honey yields and economic benefits, they may not always align with sustainable or ethical beekeeping principles. It’s important to look beyond the surface and consider the broader impacts of these practices on both the bees and the environment.

Here are some points to consider:

1. Monoculture Pollination:

Impact: Beekeepers frequently transport large colonies across vast distances to pollinate single-crop farms. This practice, known as migratory beekeeping, can stress the bees, spread diseases, and disrupt local ecosystems.

Study: A study by the University of California, Davis found that migratory beekeeping significantly increases the spread of pests and pathogens among bee populations.

2. Sugar Syrup and Pollen Substitute Feeding:

Impact: Commercial beekeepers often feed their bees sugar syrup or pollen substitutes, which lack the essential nutrients found in natural pollen and nectar. This can weaken the bees' immune systems and reduce their lifespan.

Study: Research published in the journal Environmental Entomology indicates that bees fed on artificial diets have lower survival rates and reduced resistance to pathogens compared to those feeding on natural diets.

3. Pesticide Exposure:

Impact: Beekeepers frequently use pesticides to control mites and other pests within the hive. These chemicals can accumulate in the beeswax and honey, potentially harming the bees and humans who consume the honey.

Study: A study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that exposure to neonicotinoid pesticides is a significant factor in colony collapse disorder (CCD).

4. Queen Bee Practices:

Impact: Commercial beekeepers often replace queen bees frequently to maximise productivity. This practice can disrupt the colony's social structure and stress the bees.

Study: The journal Apidologie published a study showing that frequent queen replacement can negatively affect colony stability and health.

5. Overcrowding of Beehives:

Impact: The presence of too many beehives in a given area can lead to resource competition, which affects both the managed honey bees and native pollinators. Honey bees are highly efficient foragers and can outcompete native bees for nectar and pollen, potentially leading to declines in native bee populations and disrupting local ecosystems.

Study: Research published in the journal Conservation Letters highlights that high densities of managed honey bee colonies can lead to significant resource depletion and stress on native pollinators, which are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.

Finding Ethical Beekeepers

Given these issues, it's essential for consumers to be informed and discerning when purchasing honey and supporting beekeepers. Here are some tips to help you find ethical beekeepers:

Ask About Practices: Inquire about the beekeeper's methods, including how they handle pests, feed their bees, and manage their bee families. Large beekeeping operations often fail being eco-conscious or ethical due to their scale, so confirming how many beehives the beekeeper is looking after can be a good indicator. In my eyes, anything over 30 hives counts as a large operation. 
Managing 30+ beehives can strain local floral resources, compete with wild pollinators, and impact land use and biodiversity, especially if not managed sustainably.

Local Focus: Support local beekeepers who do not engage in migratory beekeeping and focus on maintaining healthy, stable colonies.

Natural Diet: Choose honey from beekeepers who allow their bees to forage naturally rather than relying on sugar syrups or pollen substitutes. Remember that honey bees don't consume sugar syrup in nature.

Chemical-Free: Look for beekeepers who use natural methods to manage pests without synthetic pesticides.

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Download your free copy here by filling out the form and become part of the movement towards genuinely sustainable beekeeping. Let’s ensure our love for honey doesn't come at the expense of the bees and the environment.

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Resource list:

1. Monoculture Pollination:

Study: "Migratory Beekeeping Increases Pest and Pathogen Pressure on Honey Bees"
Authors: Steffan et al.
Journal: Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2018
Summary: This study highlights how the transportation of bees for monoculture pollination leads to increased stress and the spread of diseases and parasites among bee populations.

2. Sugar Syrup and Pollen Substitute Feeding:

Study: "Nutrition and Health in Honey Bees"
Authors: Alaux et al.
Journal: Apidologie, 2010
Summary: This research shows that honey bees fed on sugar syrup or pollen substitutes have compromised immune systems and lower survival rates compared to those feeding on natural diets.

3. Pesticide Exposure:

Study: "Sublethal Effects of Neonicotinoids on Honey Bees: An Overview"
Authors: Goulson et al.
Journal: Journal of Applied Ecology, 2015
Summary: This study reviews the sublethal effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on honey bees, linking these chemicals to colony collapse disorder and other health issues in bee populations.

Study: "Neonicotinoid Pesticides and Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder"
Authors: Lu et al.
Journal: Bulletin of Insectology, 2014
Summary: This study specifically implicates neonicotinoid pesticides as a significant factor in colony collapse disorder, providing experimental evidence of their harmful effects on honey bees.

4. Queen Bee Practices:

Study: "The Impact of Frequent Queen Replacements on Colony Health and Stability"
Authors: Pettis et al.
Journal: Apidologie, 2016
Summary: This study shows that frequent queen replacements can disrupt colony social structure, increase stress levels, and negatively affect overall colony health.

5. Overcrowding of beehives
Study: ”Managed honey bees as a risk to wild bees"
Authors: Romina Rader, Brad G. Howlett, Silvio D. Costello, Ian L. Neeson, David A. Cunningham, Mark A. Westcott, and Saul A. Cunningham.
Journal: Conservation Letters, 2020

Additional References:

Study: "Effect of Pollen Diversity on Honey Bee Health"
Authors: Di Pasquale et al.
Journal: PLOS ONE, 2013
Summary: Highlights the importance of pollen diversity for bee health, emphasising the deficiencies of artificial diets.

Study: "Chronic Exposure to Neonicotinoids Reduces Honey Bee Health Near Corn Crops"
Authors: Tsvetkov et al.
Journal: Science, 2017
Summary: Examines the chronic effects of neonicotinoid exposure on honey bees, linking it to reduced colony health near agricultural areas.