Bees are vital pollinators, quietly underpinning global food production and ecosystem health. Beyond producing honey, their true value lies in the billions of pollination events they perform daily. Apiculture, which is the practice of beekeeping, not only supports bee populations but also ensures the pollination of key crops like strawberries, apples, almonds, blueberries, and cherries which we enjoy everyday without thinking about these busy creatures.
Many of these crops are heavily reliant on managed hives, yet we often overlook the crucial role beekeepers play in maintaining this balance. As wild pollinators decline, sustainable apiculture becomes ever more essential for biodiversity, food security, and agricultural resilience.
His innovations - such as horizontal hives with movable frames - allowed honey to be harvested without destroying the colony. He championed practices like gentle hive management, regular inspections, and maintaining strong, healthy queens. His intuitive grasp of bee behaviour and respect for “bee space” laid the groundwork for sustainable beekeeping methods that continue to guide apiarists worldwide.
World Bee Day isn’t just a celebration of bees - it’s also a tribute to those who work tirelessly to protect them.
In the 2023–24 season, U.S. beekeepers experienced the highest honey bee colony losses in 14 years, with an estimated 55.1% of managed colonies lost. Commercial operations were particularly affected, reporting average losses of 62% between June 2024 and March 2025. These losses, totaling around 1.6 million colonies, have resulted in economic impacts exceeding $600 million, affecting honey production, pollination services, and colony replacement costs. The decline in honey bee populations threatens the pollination of key crops such as almonds, apples, cherries, and blueberries, which are heavily reliant on managed hives.
Bee populations face growing pressures from pests like the varroa mite, habitat loss, pesticides, and shifting climate conditions. At AgriSound, we’ve developed in-field bioacoustic sensors that monitor bee activity in real time which provides valuable insights into the health of both managed and wild colonies.
This data is helping farmers adopt bee-friendly practices, such as more considered timings for spraying, and develop biodiversity action plans tailored to their land to create habitats. This increases productivity for growers and also the beekeepers to protect their colonies. Most importantly, we integrate our global data into a powerful actionable resource which enables growers and beekeepers to act early, reducing the risk of losses and supporting recovery when challenges arise. It’s a quiet but powerful step forward in protecting these essential pollinators.
Contact us today to find out how AgriSound can support your biodiversity in ensuring a thriving pollinator colony on your farm.