The Importance of Forage Diversity for Honey Bees in South Africa

Introduction

The world is worried about honey bees. There are fears globally that bees may become extinct. This would have implications for food security: between 50% and 80% of the world’s food supply – fruits, vegetables and the seeds used to produce grain for livestock – is directly or indirectly affected by honey bee pollination. Most studies suggest that nearly one-third of the world’s crops depend on honey bees for pollination. Others have shown that disruptions in pollination of various crops could have serious implications for public health, particularly in Africa and Asia. About 56% of populations in most developing countries would be at risk of nutrient deficiency if pollinators were wiped out.