No bees, no food: John Miller at TEDxUNC

Commercial beekeeper John Miller has fought to help keep our world's natural pollinators alive. "The link between plants and bees is a seductive life cycle, and for 120 years my family has kept bees," he said, describing what he believes is the best job ever. However, over the last 70 years, America has lost half of its bee colonies due to their inability to find pasture, the increasing harm from pesticide and the viral predator bug, the verroa destructor. He came to TEDxUNC to remind us- no bees, no food.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[jwilson]

Eric, America's natural pollinators are also struggling with the same things that are stressing the honeybees...massive habitat loss and damage, no forage, pesticides and other agricultural sprays. In addition, the native pollinators are not as suited to pollinating so many of our food crops (which are also not native to the Americas) as are honeybees. And the native pollinators are not honey producers. We need ALL our pollinators, what is good for one is not only good for them all, but for us as well.
 So support the good work that helps us all: vote with your food dollar and buy organic. Plant lots of pollinator forage in your yard, on your balcony, in your community (catmint, clovers, fruit trees), buy local honey and consider keeping bees.

[joannegray]

Another side one to one of the leading factory farm mongers of bees. Check him out in More Than Honey. Images of how he "manages" bees in the almonds caused me to give up all my beloved almond products. Shared diseases and pests, transportation stresses, chemical dousing for pests all appear to this backyard beekeeper to contribute to losses. That said, his points are valid. In some places in Europe, farmers can't plant their entire field anymore, they have to leave a portion unplanted and natural to provide healthy forage.

[whatdoyouknowkid]

I've been saying for years that almond growers need to find a ground cover plant that will bloom below the almond trees before the almond trees bloom so that beekeepers have plants to live on as they wait for the trees to bloosum and then the beekeepers won't have to feed their bees these pollen patties and corn syrup.  If these industries won't work together then they will all self-destruct.  Stupid people won't make it, smart people working together can.

[realar]

This world worries way too much about perfection.

[giovannibarranca]

It's quite simple. There is obviously an issue with bee populations declining for whatever causative agents involved.All people should get involved to at least help solve this issue and help the Humble Bumble!

[Klevjer]

All pollenating insects be they European honeybees, native solitary and bumble bees, as well as others are threatened by the same four factors: monocultural agricultural practices, lack of appropriate forage due to land use, the inappropriate use of topical pesticides and the introduction to the new family of neonicotinoids (neonics), and  a variety of diseases and parasites.

[hermanlamprecht]

He has good people working for him but he inherited the company. The problem is not just with the beekeepers though as america has a close relationship with monocultures and roundup ready crops. They love their convenience and "money" saving. The crops that need to be pollinated for food are not native to america so native bees will not work. American native bees also does not produce honey that can be harvested so doesn't make commercial sense. Thus the importation of foreign honey bees that can be managed. I worked for John Miller and can say he has some unorthodox methods of what should be happening.

I will however ask you what other beekeeper that handles a vast amount of hives does not? Unfortunately hobbyists can not fullfill the needs of american commercial farming although they would probably care the most.

[freeminds]

Geert Hoste verteld eindelijk eens iets nuttigs :))))

[jeand.]

Colony collapse disorder has occurred all over Europe.  Check it out on Wikipedia.  Do a couple of minutes' research, Mr. Duprey, to inform yourself.

[DougGrinbergs]

Lousy audio: poor levels, sibilant, way too much ambient, reverberant room sound. (:-(