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| Importance
Honeybees have had a long-standing history with mankind. Honey is not a recent agricultural commodity, in fact, “as far back as recorded history goes, accounts have been written of people gathering honey, and enjoying the sweet, high-energy food” (Herren 2007:148). The honeybee industry has truly stood the test of time, evolving right alongside mankind in their development of agriculture, technology, and cultural society. From their honey to their beeswax, humans have developed nearly every aspect of the honeybees’ products. Such creative utilization is evident in today’s society in the form of the ever-popular lotions, lip balms, and lip tints produced by Burt’s Bees, an unarguable super giant in the honeybee marketing business. But, despite interests in bee-based products, there is an even greater demand for what the honeybees do best, pollination.
Agriculture relies heavily upon pollinators for the propagation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Without such pollinators, agriculture, no matter how advanced, would remain at a stand still. Scientists recognize honeybees as one of the world’s most efficient pollinators, and so their services are being contracted out to large-scale ranches, orchards, farms, and nurseries to ensure healthy propagation. However, it is theorized that the changing face of the honeybee industry, is another key factor contributing to their overall demise.
In the left hand navigation bar, you will find two topics relating to the importance of honeybees to man. The first, Between man and bee, is a brief history of the domestication of the honeybee and the development of the resulting industry. The second, Modern agricultural use, is an account of the current state of the honeybee industry.
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