Benefit of bees even bigger than thought

[FarCenter]

Bees have a much greater economic value than is widely known, according to a scientific probe into strawberry-growing published on Wednesday.

Strawberries pollinated by bees were of far higher commercial value than fruit that was self-pollinated or pollinated by the wind.

They were heavier, firmer and redder and had a longer shelf life, researchers in Germany found.

Bees are under threat from hive "collapse", a disorder that some have linked to pesticides and pollution.

According to a 2011 report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), pollination by bees and other insects contributed about 153 billion euros ($204 billion), or 9.5 percent, of the total global value of food production.

But such estimates could be far short of the mark, the new study said.

http://www.france24.com/en/20131204-benefit-bees-even-bigger-thought

[Berlum]

1. I'll bet they taste better, too

The Big Ag, Inc. strawbs in most markets look fab, but taste like cardboard & chemicals. Ptoooey. There's your Scientific Materialism (aka Poo) at work in the world. As usual.

[Javaman]

2. And here I was thinking about giving up my hives because I was tired of getting stung...

I think I'll keep them a while longer.