Extinction of the bees has fatal consequences for humans

Study: 1.4 million additional deaths per year from dramatic crop decreases due to bees extinction
Bees play an important role in agriculture as they pollinate the flowers of crops and thus directly influence the harvest. An extinction of the bees would therefore have fatal consequences for humans. A recent study by Harvard T.H. According to Chan College of Health, the extinction of industrious insects would require 1.4 million additional deaths per year, as fewer fruits, vegetables and grains would be available.

Extinction of bees would result in a serious crop decline
The consequences of such crop failures would be serious. For example, the scientists around Samuel Myers reckon with a lack of vitamin A and folate-termed water-soluble vitamins, which are particularly important for children and pregnant women. In addition, the researchers fear an increase in cardiovascular diseases and some cancers, as reported in the journal "The Lancet". Thus, the extinction of the bees would result in a decline in the global fruit harvest by about 23 percent. The vegetable harvest would be reduced by 16 percent and that of nuts and grain by 22 percent.

Millions killed by bee mortality. Image: eyeQ - fotolia

Especially the poorer countries would hit the extinction of bees hard. "The researchers found that the total loss of pollinators worldwide would cause vitamin A deficiency and 173 million folic acid deficiencies in 71 million lives," Harvard T.H. Chan College of Health with. "About 1.42 million additional deaths per year would then be caused by non-communicable diseases and malnutrition-an increase of 2.7 percent of the total annual mortality." If the bee population halves, then 700,000 additional deaths.

"Bees and other pollinators play a key role in about 35 percent of global food production, accounting for as much as 40 percent of micronutrients such as vitamin A and folates," the college said. Therefore, the extinction of bees has been causing great international concern for years. The cause of the insect dying is still unclear. Experts suspect as reasons among other things the employment of pesticides and the destruction of the natural habitat of the bees by the agriculture. (Ag)