Stating that bees are the cornerstone of the food chain and natural cycles, Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk said that they ensure the continuity of both agricultural products and wild plant species by carrying out a large part of the pollination on Earth.
Konuk pointed out that the disappearance of bees would lead to a chain collapse, from plant diversity to animal populations, from food prices to social peace, and said, “Without bees, many plants cannot reproduce. Therefore, plants decrease, herbivores decrease, carnivores decrease, soil fertility drops, erosion increases, and biodiversity collapses.” Konuk also noted that pesticides, climate change, habitat loss, and diseases are among the main reasons threatening bee populations, emphasizing that artificial pollination, robot bees, or genetic solutions cannot replace this natural process.
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Rector's Advisor and Head of the Molecular Biology Master's Program, Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk, provided information about the importance of bees for the ecosystem, agriculture, and food security.
Bees are the cornerstone of the food chain, agricultural economy, and natural cycles…
Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk stated that most of us know bees only as cute insects that make honey, but added, “However, the main and vital role of bees in the ecosystem is their tasks in the pollination process. This process is one of their fundamental functions that enables both nature and human life to sustain themselves.”
Konuk, stating the reasons that make bees the ‘silent heroes’ of our planet, said, “Bees carry pollen as they fly from flower to flower. This ensures the fertilization of plants and the formation of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Honey bees perform approximately 70-80 percent of the world's pollination. The formation of the fruits and vegetables we eat every day depends on the presence of bees. The contribution of bees to pollination includes not only agricultural products but also approximately 300,000 plant species in the wild. In this way, various plant species thrive, and the habitats and food sources of many animals, from birds to mammals, are supported. The vegetation formed as a result of pollination balances the water cycle, prevents erosion, and improves soil. This also means that bees indirectly contribute to maintaining climate balance. Bees do not just produce honey; they are the cornerstone of our food chain, agricultural economy, and natural cycles.”
Pesticides and diseases reduce bee populations!
Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk noted that natural balance is the delicate interaction between living and non-living elements of ecosystems, and stated, “Bees are in a critical position within this structure. If bees disappear, in a chain reaction; pollination decreases, plant production falls, herbivores suffer, carnivores are affected, human food diversity decreases, and agricultural costs increase. This situation severely shakes the natural balance. The (controversial) quote attributed to Einstein also summarizes this: ‘If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live.’”
Konuk reminded that Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) occurs, especially in honey bees, with the sudden disappearance of most of the worker bees from a colony, and continued:
“The queen, larvae, and food stores remain in the hive, but without workers, the colony collapses. One of the main causes of this situation is pesticides. They damage the bees' nervous system and disrupt their ability to navigate. Bees cannot find food, cannot return to the hive, and the colony weakens. Climate change causes flowering times to shift, reducing nectar and pollen availability. Sudden temperature fluctuations disrupt the bees' life cycle. Habitat loss, meaning urbanization and monoculture farming, destroys natural floral diversity and reduces food variety. Diseases and parasites, especially Varroa destructor mites, cause the spread of viruses, destroying the colony.
Scientists do not see a single 'biggest' cause, but the combination of pesticides and diseases stands out. Climate change and habitat loss, on the other hand, reduce the bees' resilience.”
75% of agricultural products depend on pollination!
Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk, addressing the effects of the disappearance of bees, said, “Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oilseeds will significantly decrease. 75% of agricultural products depend on pollination. Artificial pollination is costly and impractical.”
Konuk also pointed out that there would be economic, social, and ecological consequences, stating, “Agricultural incomes will drop, food prices will rise, and a food crisis will be triggered. Sectors dependent on agriculture will be hit, and the honey and bee products industry will disappear. Food access will be restricted, nutritional diversity will decrease, and the risk of hunger will increase. Rural migration and unemployment will grow, and social unrest may occur. Plant diversity will decrease, habitats will be disrupted, herbivores will not find food, and the food chain will collapse. Forests and many species will disappear.”
Without bees, biodiversity collapses!
Reiterating that the disappearance of bees would create a domino effect, Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk said, “75% of flowering plants depend on animal pollination. Without bees, many plants cannot reproduce. Insects that feed on pollen and nectar face the risk of extinction. Species that feed on fruits and seeds cannot find food, the seed dispersal mechanism weakens, and forests shrink. Therefore, plants decrease, herbivores decrease, carnivores decrease, soil fertility drops, erosion increases, and biodiversity collapses.”
The most logical way is to protect bees and natural pollination!
Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk pointed out that technological solutions like artificial fertilization or robot bees cannot replace natural pollination, stating, “At least for now and in the near future, it is not entirely possible. This is because natural pollination is a complex and highly efficient process; technology struggles to match it both biologically and economically.”
Konuk concluded his remarks by addressing existing technological solutions and their problems:
“In some regions of China, particularly in areas where bee populations have declined due to pesticides, people pollinate flowers one by one with brushes or cotton swabs. However, this method is very time-consuming and labor costs are extremely high. It is possible in small gardens but cannot be applied on a global agricultural scale. In Japan and some research centers, studies are underway on small drones that carry pollen. However, many problems are being experienced. Achieving precise contact with every flower is very complex. Millions of robots would be needed for billions of flowers. The environmental impact of these machines is unknown. On the other hand, genetic and agricultural alternatives are also being studied. There are efforts to develop plants less dependent on pollination. However, this cannot compensate for the loss of biodiversity and only provides a limited agricultural solution.”
These approaches we have listed cannot replace bees. Because bees have been providing an optimized ecosystem service for millions of years. They not only carry pollen but also establish a symbiotic relationship with plants, can distinguish flower species, and follow the most efficient pollination path. Replicating this complex behavior technologically is both costly and incompatible with nature. In conclusion, it should be stated that technological solutions may offer support in some small areas in the short term, but they cannot compensate for the absence of bees. The most logical way is to protect bees and natural pollination.