France's beekeepers count cost of devastating year as honey production plummets

Published 2024년 9월 9일

Tridge summary

France's honey production has been severely hit by heavy rains and low temperatures, with some regions seeing an 80% drop in spring honey harvest. The poor weather conditions have prevented bees from foraging, leading to mass starvation. The apiculture industry is already struggling with declining production and competition from imported honey. The situation is further complicated by challenges in marketing and managing large stockpiles. The decline in honey production is part of a broader environmental crisis, with bees playing a crucial role in pollinating flowering plants and ensuring food security. The European Union is implementing measures to protect pollinators, including expanding protected areas and reducing pesticide use, but experts warn that more needs to be done to address climate change, habitat loss, and pesticide use to prevent further decline or extinction of bees.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

As the summer draws to an end, beekeepers across France are taking stock of a year blighted by heavy rains and low temperatures that have decimated hives and honey production. Beekeepers say 2024 has proved a disastrous year for honey production. The spring honey harvest fell by as much as 80 percent in some parts of France, with many bees dying from starvation. The primary culprit is poor weather: cold temperatures and relentless rain have left colonies unable to forage, forcing some beekeepers to supplement their diets with sugar and adding significant costs in an already struggling industry. When it rains, bees stay inside their hives instead of flying out to collect nectar. During these periods, they consume their reserves of honey, depleting the very resource they are supposed to produce. Compounding the problem are cooler-than-usual temperatures, which prevent flowers from producing the nectar essential for bees' survival and honey making. This year, the impact has been ...

Source: Modernghana