WILL HUMANS DISAPPEAR 4 YEARS AFTER BEES?

Why humans should survive a bee apocalypse

Will humans disappear 4 years after bees have disappeared? This is often quoted as a fact by people who mean well and want to promote bee welfare.

But, the idea that humans would disappear in just four years without bees is an exaggeration, although bees are vitally important.

Facts to consider

• Impact of Bees: Bees are major pollinators, meaning they transfer pollen between plants, allowing them to reproduce. Many fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants rely on bees for pollination.
• Food Shortages: If bees disappeared entirely, there would be significant food shortages. Many of the crops we depend on, like fruits, nuts, and some vegetables, would experience drastically reduced yields.
• Not All Food Affected: However, some staples like grains (wheat, rice, corn) are wind-pollinated and wouldn’t be directly impacted.
• Timeframe: The shift wouldn’t be an immediate apocalypse. We’d likely see a gradual decline in food variety and availability, driving up prices.
• Scientific Consensus: The four-year quote is likely misattributed to Albert Einstein (Einstein never said that), and doesn’t reflect the complexity of the situation.

So, while bees are essential, human extinction wouldn’t happen that fast.

Our diets would suffer tremendously, and we’d need to find alternative pollination methods, but we could adapt over time.

How will we survive?

There actually aren’t any food sources in South Africa (or anywhere else for that matter) that rely exclusively on bee pollination.

Plants have evolved various pollination strategies, and many can be pollinated by different insects, wind, or even self-pollination.

Alternative Pollination Methods

While not as efficient or widespread, hand-pollination and robotic pollinators are being explored as alternatives.

These methods are expensive and time-consuming, but they could help fill the gap left by bees.

Other Pollinators

Bees aren’t the only pollinators, although they’re a dominant one.

Other insects, birds, and even bats play a role. If bees disappeared, these other pollinators might see their populations increase to fill the niche, but it likely wouldn’t be enough to fully replace bees.

Importance of Biodiversity

A world without bees would be a less diverse one.

Many flowering plants rely on bees for reproduction, and their loss could lead to cascading effects throughout ecosystems.

Focus on Sustainability

The decline of bees is a symptom of larger environmental issues like habitat loss and pesticide use.

Addressing these issues is crucial not just for bees, but for the health of the planet as a whole.

The Future of Food: Beyond the Buzz

It’s important to note that even for bee-pollinated crops, other pollinators might play a supporting role. The presence of bees however significantly increases the yield and quality of the harvest.

Bees are essential pollinators for a wide range of South African crops and fruits.

Here are some examples:

• Nuts: Almonds (grown in some parts of South Africa)
• Fruits: Mangoes, apples, pears, litchis, guavas, apricots, peaches, plums, and many types of berries.
• Vegetables: Some squash varieties, melons, and sunflower seeds (used for cooking oil).

While bees are essential pollinators, scientists are exploring alternative methods to ensure food security in the face of their decline.

Here are some areas of ongoing research:

• Alternative Pollination Methods: Techniques like hand-pollination and the use of robotic pollinators are being investigated as potential solutions, although they are currently expensive and labor-intensive.
• Pest-Resistant Crops: Scientists are developing crop varieties with built-in resistance to pests and diseases.

Overall, the importance of bees in ecosystems cannot be overstated. Without bees, many plant species would struggle to reproduce, leading to a decline in biodiversity. In addition, crop yields would be significantly reduced, leading to food shortages and higher prices. 

Will humans disappear 4 years after bees cease to exist, or even shortly after?

That is an exaggeration and miscalculation by well-meaning bee lovers., and doomsday prophets.