(Dow Fellows Program 2013)

In the face of major honey bee population declines around the world, many beekeepers and farmers are taking positive action on a local level. Some of the best examples of sustainable pollinator practices can be found right here in Michigan. Farmers such as Jim Koan, owner of Almar Orchards, an organic apple farm, and cider brewery, are an important reminder of viable solutions to protect honey bee populations in Michigan. This paper represents a one-year investigation into the complex causes and consequences of the current honey bee population decline and includes potential ways that key stakeholders in Michigan can respond to the problem. Based on our research, this paper identifies sustainable on-the-ground mitigation techniques for farmers and beekeepers and concludes with recommendations for combating honey bee population decline at an institutional level in Michigan.

Project Report