Lyona Carter Walden University May 08, 2011 The Decrease in Domesticated Honeybee Populations in the United States and San Joaquin County: a Call to Action Lyona Carter Walden University May 08, 2011 Welcome, the topic presented today is titled The decrease in domesticated honeybee populations in the United States and San Joaquin County, California: A Call to Action. References United States Department of Agriculture. (2006). Image Number D673-1. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/jan07/d673-1.htm

San Joaquin County, California – Crop Yields, Fruits and Nuts, 2007 Product Crop Yield Grapes $216,914,000 Cherries $201,694,000 Almonds $158,9322,000 Walnuts $129,363,000 Apples $38,457,000 San Joaquin County is a part of California’s Central Valley. The county is a top agricultural produce locally and nationally. It produces of 80% of the worlds almonds, and is ranked in grape, walnut and peach production. References San Joaquin County Department of Agriculture. (2007). 2007 Agricultural Report San Joaquin County. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from www.sjgov.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=9572 United States Department of Agriculture. (2004).World Almond Situation & Outlook. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from http://www.fas.usda.gov/htp/Hort_Circular/2004/12-10-04/12-04%20Almonds.pdf

The Role of Bees in San Joaquin County The US Department of Agriculture (2010) reports: “Bee pollination is responsible for $15 billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables.” Without bee pollination there would be a very limited supply of food on the planet. References United States Department of Agriculture. (2006). Agroforestry: Sustaining Native Bee Habitat For Crop Pollination. Retrieved May 08, 2011, from http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/agroforestrynotes32-overview.pdf United States Department of Agriculture. (2010). Questions and Answers: Colony Collapse Disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572

Several Foods Dependent Upon Honeybees Tomatoes Grapefruits Prunes Pumpkins Almonds Vegetable seeds Cranberries Pears Apples Plums Soybeans Bees are essential in food production and many foods rely on them for their existence including squash, almonds, alfalfa seeds, cherries, avocadoes, blueberries, canola, cucumbers, prunes, pumpkins, soybeans, grapefruit, plums, macadamia nuts, pears, apples, cranberries, chokecherries, tomatoes, watermelons and vegetable seeds (USDA, 2006). References United States Department of Agriculture. (2006). Agroforestry: Sustaining Native Bee Habitat For Crop Pollination. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from http://plants.usda.gov/pollinators/Agroforestry_Sustaining_Native_Bee_Habitat_for_Crop_Pollination.pdf References United States Department of Agriculture. (2006). Agroforestry: Sustaining Native Bee Habitat For Crop Pollination. Retrieved May 08, 2011, fromhttp://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/agroforestrynotes32-overview.pdf

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) a disorder causing the eradication of once present bee populations in the United States and abroad. Honeybee losses range from 30-90 percent Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a severe issue worthy of more investigative efforts. The range of affected honeybees loss to CCD is alarming and has the potential for deleterious long-term effects to the food supply. References United States Department of Agriculture. (2010). Questions and Answers: Colony Collapse Disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572

Pesticides and Honeybee decline CCD Pesticides? Mites / Disease? Stress? The real cause of CCD has yet to be identified, however evidence does suggest a link between pesticides (Gross, 2008). References Gross, M. (2008). Pesticides Linked to Bee Deaths. Current Biology, 18(16), R684. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.08.004.

CCD as a Global Issue CCD is prevalent abroad In Europe the chemical Clothianidin (Bayer) was alleged. In 2008, Bayer paid $2 million Euros to beekeepers (Gross, 2008). In Europe, CCD has been linked to pesticide use (Gross, 2008). Bayer paid $2 million euros to beekeepers in 2008 amid claims and research related to pesticide use and the collapse of bee colonies (Gross, 2008).

CCD and the Multi-factoral Theory Agricultural Intensification Pesticides Disease Stress The US Department of Agriculture (2010) has noted the probability of multiple distinct factors contributing to CCD. The USDA has referred to varying conditions as a potential “perfect storm”.

Paradigm Shift with Implications for the Future Yesterday Diversity Today Monocrop Yesterday, prior to mass land development, land areas in San Joaquin County bloomed with flowers and nectar, today land areas are full of residential development and almond crops. San Joaquin County produces over 80% of the world’s almond supply. As a requirement to increase production of large monocrops, native bees are unable to manage. Bees from other regions are transported into the almond fields to fill the gaps local honeybees cannot fully manage. The US Department of Agriculture (2010) reports: “In California, the almond crop alone uses 1.3 million colonies of bees, approximately one half of all honey bees in the United States, and this need is projected to grow to 1.5 million colonies by 2010.” Without careful consideration of the full environmental impact of monocrops and the potential impact on bees, our food supply and pivotal bee populations are at risk of decline. References: United States Department of Agriculture. (2010). Questions and Answers: Colony Collapse Disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572 References Kremen, C., Williams, N.M. & Thorp, R.W. (2002). Crop Pollination from Native Bees at Risk from Agricultural Intensification. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 99, 16812–16816.

Direct Impact to Global Community and Local Economies Economics Decreased crop value and increase in prices Social Decreased food security Limited available food sources Political Economic and political instability Again, without bee pollination there would be a very limited supply of food on the planet. If the above mentioned foods were unavailable for consumption and plantation then our food supply would decrease drastically. The impact of CCD in San Joaquin County can negatively affect the food supply, food production, food prices, and the local, regional and national economies. Decreased crop value Increased Food Security Limited available food sources Economic and political instability References Ghosh, J. (2010). The Unnatural Coupling: Food and Global Finance. Journal of Agrarian Change, 10(1), 72-86. doi:10.1111/j.1471-0366.2009.00249.x. Winfree, R., Williams, N. M., Dushoff, J., & Kremen, C. (2007). Native Bees Provide Insurance Against OngoingHoney Bee Losses. Ecology Letters, 10(11), 1105-1113. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01110.x

Stakeholders San Joaquin County Office of Agricultural Commission   San Joaquin County Office of Agricultural Commission http://www.sjgov.org/agcomm/ The Great Sunflower Project http://www.greatsunflower.org/project-leaders City of Tracy California Economic Development team http://www.ci.tracy.ca.us/departments/economic_development/ Local food growers , local media and the local community!

References Ghosh, J. (2010). The Unnatural Coupling: Food and Global Finance. Journal of Agrarian Change, 10(1), 72-86. doi:10.1111/j.1471-0366.2009.00249.x. Gross, M. (2008). Pesticides Linked to Bee Deaths. Current Biology, 18(16), R684. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.08.004. San Joaquin County Department of Agriculture. (2007). 2007 Agricultural Report San Joaquin County. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from www.sjgov.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=9572 United States Department of Agriculture. (2006). Agroforestry: Sustaining Native Bee Habitat For Crop Pollination. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from http://plants.usda.gov/pollinators/Agroforestry_Sustaining_Native_Bee_Habitat_for_Crop_Pollination.pdf United States Department of Agriculture. (2006). Image Number D673-1. Retrieved April 24, 2011, from http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/jan07/d673-1.htm United States Department of Agriculture. (2010). Questions and Answers: Colony Collapse Disorder. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572 Winfree, R., Williams, N. M., Dushoff, J., & Kremen, C. (2007). Native Bees Provide Insurance Against Ongoing Honey Bee Losses. Ecology Letters, 10(11), 1105-1113. doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2007.01110.x.

What is Needed? Additional research to understand the factors related to CCD. More proactive, collaborative and investigative approach from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the USDA. Add CCD investigation as an addition to Healthy People 2020 objectives under the Nutrition and Weight Status objective; given its relatedness to food security. Find the cause create prevention and intervention strategies. Increased communication and awareness. In order to prevent further losses to bee populations more research and collaboration are needed to understand the causes of CCD. An orchestrated proactive approach is needed by leading officials and representatives from the EPA and USDA. Given the focus on food security in Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) objectives, CCD should be added as a subobjective and highlighted as a major threat to food security. Funding for additional research are needed in discovering the causes of CCD so that novel approaches to prevention and intervention strategies can be created, implemented and refined prior to any food security issue related to CCD emerges. Lastly, increased public awareness is needed on the impacts of a dwindling honeybee population.

Recommended Reading Larsen, T.H., Williams, N.W. & Kremen, C. (2005). Extinction order and altered community structure rapidly disrupt ecosystem functioning. Ecol. Lett., 8, 538–547. Kremen, C., Williams, N.M. & Thorp, R.W. (2002). Crop Pollination from Native Bees at Risk from Agricultural Intensification. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 99, 16812–16816. Here is a listing or additional recommended reading.