Bee Population Decline Threatens 80% of Global Crop Pollination

Approximately 80% of agricultural crops depend on bees for pollination, meaning a collapse in bee populations would cause severe damage to global food production. Only wind-pollinated staples, such as wheat, rice, rye, and potatoes, would remain largely unaffected. Bee populations have declined by roughly one-third over the last 15 years. Experts attribute this trend to the widespread use of pesticides, climate change, and the impact of modern beekeeping methods. Mass mortality events are primarily driven by chemical pesticides, disease-carrying parasites, and colony collapse disorder. These factors threaten the efficiency of worker bees, which can pollinate up to 5,000 flowers during their 30-to-45-day lifespan. Marking World Bee Day, specialists noted that while bees emerged nearly 100 million years ago, human domestication has evolved into the modern apiculture industry essential for ecological stability.