Lisette Voytko writes for Forbes…
Topline: A recent study from Colorado State University reports that industrial hemp could help declining bee populations—a source of great ecological concern—because it’s a great source of pollen.
- According to researchers, most hemp crops flower between July and September, coinciding with a lack of pollen production from other farm crops.
- Over 2,000 bees (and 23 different types of bee, including the European honeybee) were collected during the study. The 23 bee types represent 80% of all types in the region.
- This discovery points to hemp as a new pollen source for bees and could help sustain their populations.
- Bee colonies have been declining in the U.S. due to stressors such as pests, pesticide exposure and poor nutrition from a lack of pollen, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Read the full report at https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2019/06/11/study-hemp-could-help-declining-honeybee-population/#11184fb53ea3
