that is, a few words on ethical beekeeping.
Countless articles have already been written on bees, especially recently as communities around the world are finally starting to openly discuss climate change and the great sixth mass extinction of species. We are beginning to pay closer attention to these insects, which are beyond useful from our human perspective. In summary, bees can be categorized as farmed or wild. It is evident that the latter are endangered, and they play a crucial role in the survival of humanity and the entire biodiversity of the planet.
Whether you like honey or prefer to avoid it, the disappearance of wild honeybees concerns you too. If you consume tea, coffee, juices, ice cream, soups, salads, or any plant-based delicacies, you are at the mercy of these tiny heroines. After all, they pollinate around a third of all foods and up to 70% of plants, which constitute 90% of our staple diet. It is hard to overlook such a fact with indifference.
The slogan "Save the Bees" (incorrectly attributed to Albert Einstein) frequently surfaces on social media in various lifestyle and environmental articles. It suggests that humanity would face extinction within four years of bees vanishing from the planet. In major cities, it is becoming more common to install beehives on rooftops and replace lawns with flower meadows. Prominent corporations proudly proclaim their environmental friendliness and commitment to supporting pollinating insects while Greenpeace has been running a bee adoption campaign for several years. Even preschoolers know that bees need to be protected. But is it really necessary…? And if so, how? To what extent should humans interfere in the lives of these insects? Can beekeeping, which relies on the use of bee products, be ethical at all?
In every industrial apiary (and often in amateur apiaries as well), beekeepers carry out various measures to enhance the vitality and strength of their bees. For instance, in addition to antibiotics, they administer medication for varroa, a bee parasite, once or twice a season. Varroa is a mite believed to have originated from Asia. It weakens the insects, making them susceptible to numerous viral and fungal diseases. However, the preparations used to combat the parasite are not harmless to human health. One popular drug contains amitraz, a substance that recent studies have shown to have a negative impact on the human body (as well as other creatures, such as fish), causing severe poisoning. Furthermore, the drug kills not only the parasites but also other microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, that have a symbiotic relationship with bees, benefiting their health and facilitating normal functioning (similar to our intestinal bacteria, for example). Additionally, varroa develops immunity to amitraz over time, resulting in the emergence of drug-resistant 'super mites'.
Organic or biodynamic apiaries that avoid the use of chemical drugs in favor of natural remedies, such as organic acids or essential oils, could offer a solution. By steering clear of antibiotics, bees are more likely to develop robust defense mechanisms. This, in turn, strengthens the entire colony and reduces the incidence of diseases caused by parasites.
Another common and unfortunate practice among beekeepers is interfering with the natural reproductive process of bee queens. In nature, the queen lives for about 5-6 years, and during this time, she is the sole egg layer in the colony. If the queen becomes ill or the quantity or quality of the eggs is subpar, the bees collectively decide to 'create' a new queen. The old queen is then killed by the newly reigning young queen, who is still unfertilized. However, in commercial beekeeping, beekeepers cannot afford to 'disrupt production' and replace queens every two years, or sometimes even after just one year. They artificially inseminate the queens in laboratories, all with the aim of enhancing desired genetic traits such as gentleness and honey production. Furthermore, sometimes the queens have their wings clipped to prevent them from flying far from the hive, in case the bees molt. All these practices are carried out solely for the convenience of the beekeeper and to achieve better production results.
On the other hand, purchasing a queen bee may prove to be a great relief for those bee colonies that have lost theirs for various reasons. Or rather, it can be a life-saver for the beekeeper who wants to preserve as many bees as possible. It is important to remember that, due to weather changes and bee poisoning from pesticides, professional beekeepers often lose entire colonies, thus losing their main source of income.
In nature, bees live in the hollows of old trees, unused animal burrows, and abandoned cottages. However, since ancient times, people have been constructing hives for their own convenience, using materials like clay, straw, or wood. More recently, hives made of alternative materials, such as polystyrene or polyurethane, have been introduced to the market. These hives offer several advantages, including being lightweight and providing good insulation against the cold for the bees. Nevertheless, there is an increasing number of reports suggesting that substances from such hives can permeate into the honey, especially after they have been used for multiple seasons and exposed to various weather conditions. Bees may also chew on polystyrene and convert it into a material used to construct wax combs.
The same is true for the equipment used to process honey - all kinds of extractors, sieves, etc. There are primarily two materials available on the market: galvanized sheet metal and stainless steel. The former can react with food and should not be used. However, many beekeepers still stock old equipment, often used for many seasons. When buying honey, it is therefore worth asking the beekeeper what equipment and hives they use.
The importance of buying locally produced food is being talked about more and more, and it seems to me that there are increasing numbers of conscious consumers, often shopping at food cooperatives, local farms, or small neighborhood organic food shops. Just like with other products, honey will have the highest 'organic quality' if its carbon footprint (associated with transport, for example) is kept as low as possible. Honey produced on an industrial scale is often imported from outside the EU (mainly from China) and mixed with local honeys. When we purchase such a product, we cannot be certain that antibiotics banned in our country, for example, were not used in its production.
Various fields of medicine and folk traditions tell us that it is healthiest to eat foods that have grown in the area where we currently live. This is because these plants are rich in ingredients that correspond to the climate of the geographical area. In Poland for example, we have an extraordinary wealth of medicinal plants from which bees collect nectar and pollen. Linden, buckwheat, or heather honey have medicinal properties supported by laboratory tests. It is worth considering whether it is necessary and justifiable to buy honey of foreign origin, despite its taste qualities. By buying local organic products, you are also supporting local farmers in their efforts to help the environment, especially during a difficult time of global change, not only climate change.
The subject of beekeeping and the use of bees for the survival of mankind is quite complex, and answering the question of its ethicality conclusively is difficult. Despite thousands of years of mankind's interaction with these insects, we have not managed to domesticate them. Bees are still wild animals and will likely remain so. A colony that has flown out of its hive will thrive on its own in the forest. Bees do not need us to survive, although beekeepers may prefer to believe otherwise. It is us who need them.
What we should actually do for them is let them live in peace. Don't poison, don't disturb, and don't take too much honey. Simply let them bee. For me, ethical beekeeping is one where:
- Human interference is kept to a minimum.
- Bees and their integrity and life cycle are respected.
- Chemicals and materials of artificial origin are not used.
- Local flora and local producers of bee products are supported.
Keep these guidelines in mind the next time you shop for honey and other bee products, such as beeswax candles, bee pollen, or wax for food packaging.
Local plants and local producers of bee products are supported.
The more local the better!
We will recommend a few brands and initiatives but you should definitely look around you first, to support small, local businesses.
Honey from ethical epiaries:
Beeswax wraps
NGO’s:
- Plan Bee (bee adoption)
- Karma Honey Project (bee adoption)
- The Bee Girls Organization
- The Bee Conservancy
You can find reliable bee products, including organic honey, at the shops on Ethy Maps!
Julia Krzywicka is an amateur wildlife enthusiast and bee lover. She occasionally writes about them on her profilu Pszczoła działkowiczka profile. A graduate of the Akademia Głębokiej Ekologii (Academy of Deep Ecology), she is an active member of the Zasiej Association, which focuses on environmental education and urban gardening. On a daily basis, she takes delight in observing birds and insects and enjoys "forest baths."
