The importance of bees in organic agriculture

By Michael Weiler

Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) keeping reveals a long-standing relationship between humans and insects. Honeybees are of vital importance to the landscape they live and fly in. They increase the diversity of the flora, which subsequently increases the diversity of insects and herbivorous animals and even soil fertility. It is well known that the quality and quantity of blossom flowers are increased when pollinated by insects, especially by bees. The effect of pollination by bees becomes particularly noticeable where fruit is grown for human consumption.

The objective of organic agriculture is the sustainable cultivation of nature, that is the landscape, soil, plants and animals. In addition, respectful social relationships between humans are encouraged. The benefits of such practice are numerous: on the one hand, foodstuffs of highest quality are produced, on the other hand, nature, the basis for life on earth, is developed sustainably. This objective of organic agriculture is significantly enhanced by the presence of bees.

Bees and life

A bee hive can produce between 150,000 and 350,000 bees per year, depending on the landscape and climatic zone it lives in. The bee venom of one hive amounts to approximately 45-100 grams (0.3mg/bee).
However, only a few bees will ever sting in their short lifetime of six weeks. Bees spend their lives flying from one plant to the next collecting nectar. While doing so, they automatically pollinate the flowers and distribute some of their revitalising bee venom to the plants and landscape. Both pollination and revitalisation through bees enhance the fertility and regenerative capacity of plants. Dr. Rudolf Steiner often referred to this link in his lectures on bees.
Organic beekeeping in practice

How can a bee colony be managed in practice to comply with the objectives of organic agriculture, while ensuring the welfare of bees?
First of all, beekeepers have to respect the bees way of life. They have to be enthusiastic about working with bees, but also be willing to face problems that may occur. Next, the necessary time and materials have to be readily available. Bees do not articulate themselves when in need, and are more inclined to ‘die in silence’. For bees to survive, expert human care is necessary, especially in the so called ‘modern’ regions of the world. The hives and other equipment, should be made of natural, untreated, material and no poisons should be used in the management or treatment of the bees themselves.

When honey is collected enough should always be left with the bees so that they do not have to be fed with sugar during the winter. If however, circumstances make it necessary to provide sugar as little as possible should be used, and where feasible some of the bees own honey should be added to the sugar solution to improve the quality of the feed. Harvested honey should not be heated as it causes the quality of the honey to deteriorate. Light and heat also increase the aging of honey.
Michael Weiler works at the Biodynamic Institute in Germany and has kept bees for twenty years.