Summertime means beaches, barbecues and bugs. But not all bugs are pests — one-third of our food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is accomplished by bees. Bees are the sole pollinator for a wide variety of plants, serve as a critical catalyst in global food production, and play a unique role in protecting biodiversity and ecosystems around the world.
Today, due to pesticides and loss of habitat, bees are faced with extinction. The Rainforest Alliance is working with communities around the world to establish beekeeping cooperatives and tap into local markets for honey, pollen, and bees-wax. This also safeguards crops and helps wild plants flourish.
We know that the loss of a single species can have profound effects on other species, including humans. Bees are suffering massive population losses due to the use of deadly pesticides. If bees were to become extinct, many popular foods would also disappear — among them apples, tomatoes, and almonds.
On behalf of bees everywhere, join us in working to protect and sustain our environment and its precious ecosystems.