Could MIT’s Bee World Save The World’s Bees?

Leave it to the students at MIT to possibly solve the rapid decline in our bee population. YES! When 75% of the world’s crops depend on bees and other pollinators AND the global bee population is down 50%, we will have a real problem providing enough food for everyone.  Did you know that several bee species have been added to the U.S. endangered species list for the first time ever? This is why this self-contained artificial environment might just be the ticket to rebuild our bee population.

How does it work?

Bees would live in complete captivity so the MIT students could study their behavior and to protect the bees from pesticides and other toxic substances that are killing them.  The bees will gather synthetic pollen and sugary water, and they’ll set up hives in this controlled environment.  Temperature, lights, and breezes will be set so it will seem like spring all year long. I know people who would love this too!

What are the concerns?

I wonder why the MIT students don’t use real pollen instead of synthetic pollen.  It seems to me that synthetic pollen might mess with the bees’ ability to make honey, and if they do, would we humans want to eat honey that is made from synthetic pollen? I’m also concerned about bees being born in captivity and how they will survive if and when they will be allowed to go back into their natural habitats – or will they live their entire lives in captivity?  If bees are being raised in controlled environments to save the bee population, wouldn’t they have to be released to pollinate all of our crops?

Chime in to discuss the pros and cons. I’m in favor of creating these self-contained bee communities to boost the bee numbers and hope that the MIT students will use natural feedstock to promote optimum health benefits for both the bees and the humans.

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