In fact, there is no evidence that Einstein ever said it, and scientifically it is not entirely accurate. But the idea behind it is true. Bees play an essential role in nature. As they move from flower to flower, they carry pollen between plants, helping them reproduce.
According to some estimates, 35% of the world’s food would not exist were it not for bees!
That's why, when bee numbers began to decline, we were all alarmed. The emergence of new viruses and aggressive fungi, climate change, the use of pesticides and the disappearance of natural habitats: the debate over the exact causes is still ongoing, but all these factors have made life harder for the yellow and black insects. And, consequently, for us too.
All over the world, many people have taken action to tackle the problem. In its own small way, Fondazione Capellino, which wholly owns Almo Nature, is experimenting with ecological beekeeping methods at its Villa Fortuna estate in Piedmont, Italy. Villa Fortuna is a space dedicated (among other things) to testing and learning new methods for producing food in a sustainable way that is compatible with the protection of biodiversity.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Bees, like other insects, are essential to the ecosystems where the food we eat is produced.
We feared they might disappear, but now their numbers are starting to grow again!
The new challenge now is to protect other pollinating insects and less common bee species as well.
The good news is that these global efforts have borne fruit. There are far more bees in the world today than before! Just think: in just ten years, according to the UN agency responsible for food, the number of beehives has increased by over a quarter!
A fantastic result, in short. Now, however, it is time to do even more. This is perhaps less well known, but other insects also do the same pollination work as bees, and they too must be protected. Villa Fortuna’s sustainable farming experiments are heading precisely in this direction!
And then, as always, nature teaches us to come to terms with complexity. As the New York Times recently reported, and as covered in Italy by Il Post, we have now discovered a new problem. In recent years, a great deal of work has been done to save the most widespread species, the western honeybee, which is now in good health. But we have not managed to be quite as successful with other bee species, including those that do not produce honey but are extremely useful for biodiversity.
Just think, there are over twenty thousand types!
In short, let’s take away some good news and a mission. Bees are no longer as endangered as they once were, and this means that our lives, our food systems and our future are also safer.
But the challenge now is to protect the species that have been left behind!