Warwick Kerr's honey bee breeding altered pollination across the Americas.

In 1956, Brazilian geneticist Warwick Estevam Kerr recognized the need for a more effective bee species. Supported by the government, he aimed to breed honey bees that would thrive in tropical climates, leading to a significant migration from Rio Claro, São Paulo, across the Americas over the following decades. While often simplified as the story of "killer bees," the reality is more complex, as these hybrids became both more defensive and beneficial pollinators, ultimately transforming Brazilian beekeeping.