World Bee Day is an international event celebrated on May 20th in honor of Anton Janša, a pioneer of beekeeping. The day aims to highlight the significant role bees and other pollinators play in our ecosystem, while bringing attention to the threats they face due to human activity. These threats include concentrated farming practices, climate change, mono-cropping, and the use of pesticides.
Pollinators are responsible for 35 percent of the world's total crop production and their decline could drastically impact our food security and nutrition. Bees, in particular, are essential for pollination — the process where pollen is transferred from one flower to another, allowing plants to reproduce. Bees are considered highly efficient pollinators due to their ability to carry large amounts of pollen between plants.
Without pollinators, the diversity of our food sources could be reduced, leading to a potentially imbalanced diet. Furthermore, pollinators also help maintain biodiversity and support healthy ecosystems. In recognition of these facts, the UN has designated May 20th as World Bee Day to promote protective measures for these creatures, which are vital to combating global food supply issues and reducing hunger in developing countries.
Efforts to protect and conserve pollinators are ongoing. The Convention on Biological Diversity has prioritized pollinator conservation and sustainable use, and the International Pollinator Initiative (IPI) was established to monitor the decline of pollinators, address lack of taxonomic information, assess the economic value of pollination, and protect pollinator diversity. In line with these efforts, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) provides technical assistance to countries on various bee-related issues.
World Bee Day 2023 promotes pollinator-friendly agricultural production, encouraging everyone to contribute to the protection of bees. Measures include planting diverse native plants, supporting local farmers by purchasing raw honey, avoiding the irrational use of pesticides, and protecting wild bee colonies. These initiatives, combined with government involvement and decision-making, can help secure the survival and conservation of bees for the benefit of our food security and ecosystems.
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WORLD BEE DAY 2023 : BEES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
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