Will hemp save the bees?

Researchers at the University of Colorado have found that the Hemp could be an effective food source for bees and thus help preserve the populations of these important pollinators. This is a crucial ecological discovery in light of declining bee populations worldwide and the consequences this has for agriculture.

The Disappearance of Bees

Since 1995, global honey production has fallen to one-third of its former level, and the mortality rate of honeybees has risen from 5 to 10% under normal conditions to more than 20% in many European countries. This accelerated decline of both honeybees and wild bees is due to a series of factors, including the increased use of pesticides, intensive agriculture, the accidental introduction of Asian hornets in 2004, and the homogenization of landscapes. The problem is that bees are the most important pollinators. They contribute to 80% of the reproduction of the plant species we consume as food. Their disappearance is a true ecological disaster.

Hemp: A Step Toward a Solution?

Hemp is already grown in many countries because of its many industrial uses. It has also just been legalized in the United States and its global production is set to skyrocket. However, the hemp plant produces a significant amount of pollen that attracts bees. In the Colorado study, published in the Biomass and Bioenergy, Researchers set up traps in industrial hemp fields to estimate the bee population during the flowering period. They found more than 2,000 bees representing 23 different species. Most (38%) were honeybees, but many wild bees were also present.

Read more: The French beekeeper who made cannabis honey

The researchers concluded that «industrial hemp could play an important role as a sustained food source for bees during the growing season.» By improving their habitat, hemp crops enhance the longevity and ecosystem of bees and may thus prove effective in managing bee populations. The researchers believe that «further studies analyzing the nutritional value of hemp pollen would provide substantial evidence supporting its ecological benefits.».

However, in anticipation of the expansion of intensive hemp cultivation, researchers are warning against the overuse of pesticides (which is fortunate, since hemp doesn’t need them) and calling for smart pest management that does not endanger pollinators and biodiversity.