Around 80% of indigenous wild and cultivated plants depend on pollination by insects – especially bees. Without them, many varieties of fruit, types of vegetables, and different nuts and their trees wouldn’t exist – or only in much reduced quantities. As pollinators, bees contribute billions to agricultural production worldwide. This makes them indispensable, highly valuable contributors to our ecosystem and the overall economy.

On top of all this, bees also play a role as a particularly sensitive early warning system for environmental changes. A decline in their populations can be indicative of serious environmental concerns, such as an excessive use of pesticides, the erosion of natural habitats, or the consequences of climate change.