European bees are dying. Just in last two years, Italy has lost almost half its bees. There are many reasons for this trend -- climate change, pesticide use in agriculture, changing diets and genetically modified crops are just some of them.
In an effort to counter this grave situation, the European parliament is moving to create "recovery zones" for bees across Europe. The zones will be protected areas where pesticides are banned and there will be plenty of plants with nectar and pollen.
You know, like fields used to be.
I am a big fan of modern technology and innovation. My late grandfather, a professor in the faculty of agriculture at the University of Belgrade, where I grew up, was a major inventor of farm machinery. His inventions helped Serbian agriculture develop and flourish and benefited countless people.
But I can't help but wonder, where does progress stop and environmental destruction begin?! Also, if bees are suffering so much, what short and long-term effects do advances in large-scale agriculture have on humans?
The Christian Science Monitor recently reported that three-fourths of food produced in Europe depends on bees and that European farmers have already lost $1.25 billion because of the bee crisis. Italy, the Monitor said, is particularly hard hit, with $100 million in agriculture sector losses to date.
This is not a problem confined to Europe. Bees are disappearing worldwide. The world's agriculture practices have been unsustainable for the bees and to the land. Since 80 percent of our food relies on pollination at some point, according to the book Fruitless Fall, it is past time to for our farming practices to become sustainable, organic and local.
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