Managing Bee Populations for Profit

1min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

The bee population has doubled in recent times, but concerns over colony collapse still exist. Beekeeping has become a profitable industry, leading to more intensive management practices where bees are replaced frequently, colonies are split more often, and queens are replaced annually. This intensified effort has led to both a higher loss and production of bees. The issue of colony collapse hasn't improved; instead, beekeepers have become more adept at managing the problem.

Millions of bees died because of colony collapse disorder over the past few decades, but America’s honeybee population has now rocketed to an all-time high. The Washington Post's Andrew Van Dam explains how.

This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Rob Byers with help from Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.

Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained

Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! vox.com/givepodcasts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices