Bees play a crucial role not only in agriculture but also in human life. With this important part that they play on earth concerns have locally been on the rise about honeybee poisonings.
Chris Nicklin, chairperson for the Western Cape Bee Industry Association (WCBA), says the WCBA has raised the alarm over a concerning increase in honeybee poisonings across the province. The poisonings are attributed to the careless and often uninformed use of agricultural chemicals.
“These incidents pose a severe threat to food production, the environment as a whole, and the livelihoods of beekeepers.”
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) bees “play a major role in maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the survival and reproduction of many plants. They also ensure forest regeneration, increase sustainability and adaptation to climate change and improve the quantity and quality of agricultural production systems”.
Dawn Noemdoe, a local beekeeper from Wellington, also emphasized the crucial role that bees play in global food production, as one of the most effective pollinators of food crops.
“Every day, we rely on their pollination services to ensure the growth of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds that form the foundation of human diets. Without them, many of the foods we take for granted – such as apples, almonds, coffee, blueberries, and tomatoes would see drastic declines in yield and quality.
“Beyond food crops, bees also contribute to the health of ecosystems by pollinating wild plants that provide habitats and food for other animals. Their role in maintaining biodiversity helps stabilize ecosystems, supports soil health, and ensures the sustainability of agricultural systems.”
In 2022 Noemdoe transitioned from full-time agricultural media work to entrepreneurship. She is the founder of HoneyatDawn Pty Ltd.
“This beekeeping and value-added agricultural business focuses on eco-system services and sustainable practices. Inspired by my love for nature and a desire to empower women in agriculture, I started with a hive-by-hive approach, building a network of part-time beekeepers and exploring innovative markets for honey and by-products.
“Currently operating with 23 hives at two apiaries and [have] plans of expansion to 40 this year. Despite the challenges in this sector, especially as a new entrant I am motivated to pave the way for others to follow. I am passionate about growing this enterprise to unlock opportunities for more women owned small to medium businesses.”
Nicklin describes these poisonings as “bee carnage in some areas” of the province. “The welfare of our indigenous honeybees is not merely a beekeeping issue – it should concern everyone. Without healthy and thriving honeybee populations, the agricultural output of the Western Cape will face severe challenges, potentially leading to reduced crop yields and economic losses for the province.”
Meanwhile, a beekeeper from Worcester, who provides large-scale pollination services to agricultural farms, has lost about 600 of his colonies at a single blueberry farm. The beekeeper, who asked to remain anonymous, attributes the loss of the colonies to “reckless use of agricultural chemicals”. Tests have been conducted on the dead bees from the site. The results detected fungicides. The WCBA says fungicides are generally non-lethal to bees but can become toxic if applied incorrectly.
The Western Cape is an agricultural rich province and if the bee poisonings start to affect crop yields then it will have a ripple effect on the rest of the economic system.
“The rate of bee poisoning incidents has increased alarmingly over the past two years,” emphasized Dr. Gerhard Verdoorn. He is a top expert on pesticide exposure and is the stewardship and operations manager of CropLife South Africa.
“Bee-specific warnings on pesticide labels are often ignored, resulting in mass bee mortality when pesticides are applied during periods of active pollination in crop fields or orchards. In many cases, pesticides are sprayed off-label; in other words, contrary to label instructions. For example, imidacloprid is unlawfully applied via aerial spraying on cash crops.”
The WCBA will continue to monitor and address the situation.
