Bees contribute to food production through pollination in the following ways ¹ ²:
- Bees are the most widespread managed pollinators globally, with over 80 million hives producing an estimated 1.6 million tons of honey annually.
- A third of the world's food production depends on bees, including many food crops that rely on them for reproduction.
- Bees are essential for the pollination of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and oils. Without bees, there would be reduced yields of these crops, resulting in food insecurity and economic losses, particularly for small and rural farmers.
- Bees also pollinate coffee and cocoa beans, making them crucial for the production of these cash crops.
- In addition to honey, bees provide other products like beeswax, propolis and honey bee venom, which have various uses in medicine and other industries.
