Leatherhead Matters

Honey bees are the primary source of pollination of most crops grown in the UK. Without their vital contribution agricultural productivity in vegatable & fruit growing would be significantly reduced. But, the honey bee is becoming an endangered species!

In the USA, the mysterious disappearance of over 30% of honey bee colonies, so called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has resulted in a significant increase in research funding to determine the exact cause.

In the UK, the Government’s response (via DEFRA) to requests for an increase in research funding has resulted in….more paperwork and the unbelievable response from the Minister Jeff Rooker, “there’s no money!”. The current Government funding for bee research is £1.8m/year, which has changed little over the last decade. Even doubling the funding doesn’t show up in the rounding of Government spending.

After reports from Bee Inspectors across the country of abnormally high, bee colony  losses during this winter, the Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs has announced it is giving “higher priority” to the investigation of bee fatalities. Defra’s version of high priority is simply to “re-prioritise” the work schedules of Bee Inspectors to monitor the situation.

In April 2007, US scientists identified the fungus Nosema ceranae in dead bees from hives in California, leading them to identify it as a possible major contributory factor in CCD. They did, however, describe the findings as “highly preliminary”. No similar line of research is taking place in the Defra’s National Bee Unit.

The Government appear to misunderstand the political opportunity they are missing through their indifference. Bee keeping in the UK is not confined to rural areas or, Conservative voters. It also covers all income ranges. It’s primarily a hobby activity, unlike the USA where beekeeping is a large scale commercial activity. Defra is currently conducting a consultation (pdf download) designed as a first step in formulating a long-term strategy to protect the UK’s honeybees. In March, apiarists warned that without drastic action, Britain’ bee populations would be extinct within ten years.

I should declare an interest at this stage. I have been a beekeeper for the last 4 years. I am afraid, very afraid, that the Government will not invest in any research but, they will resort to their favourite intervention….regulation. They will argue that beekeepers should  have professional competency, particularly in identifying & treating bee diseases. This ignores the fact that beekeeping in the UK is primarily a discretionary hobby activity. Such a move will reduce the population of new beekeepers and drive others underground (unless the existing Defra Bee Inspectors are turned into snoopers!).

The British Beekeepers Association has an e-petition designed to prompt the government into action, which you can sign here.