April 28, 2009

Bee’s contribution to the UK economy

There has been a lot of talk about the reduction in the honeybee population, not just here in the UK but around the world. Somehow, the significance of this has been overlooked after all; the honeybee is just an insect and therefore would not be missed.

Yet recent research has shown that the humble honey bee actually contributes more to the UK economy than a lot of people originally thought.

Not only is there the reduction in the production of honey, honeybees are also responsible for pollinating a wide variety of the UK’s fruit and vegetables. It is estimated that this work is valued at around £200 million per year, but it could be as high as £1 billion per year if the true retail value is applied.

Source [BBC]