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Cultural and Ethical Perspectives
Food environment related to the Decline in Bee Populations as a Public Health Issue
Would Approaching the Food Environment Related to the Decline in Bee Populations as a Public Health Issue Decrease Rates of Chronic Disease for Americans?
A Registered Dietitian’s Perspective
August 25, 2020
Kathryn Ayres MA RD LDN
West Coast University
Origin of Environmental Injustice: Decline in bee populations
There have been many documented cases of bee population losses throughout history. However, between the years 2006-2007 bee populations across the globe experienced unprecedented losses of 80 – 100% (Oldroyd, 2007). This drastic decline was named colony collapse disorder (CCD) and was characterized by the initial loss of the worker bees but not the queen, nurse bees or food for the immature bees. Eventually the colony dies due to the lack of resources provided to the hive by the worker bees (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2018). This prompted governmental agencies and research organizations from around the world to launch a scientific investigation into the cause of CCD. The research has found that CCD is a multifaceted issue related to the loss of biodiversity, nutritional stress and exposure to pesticides which has led to immunosuppression and increased pathogenic infections (Oldroyd, 2007). This problem has been driven by the industrialization of farming and maintained by political and corporate interests in the agricultural sector as well as American food culture.
Loss of Biodiversity
In order for bees to meet their nutritional needs they must pollinate a diverse crop population. A study published in PNAS found that a lack of plant diversity for bees caused insufficient pollination in watermelons and a decline in worker bee populations. The study compared organic and conventional farming management as well as proximity to naturally biodiverse land. Pollination contribution and abundance of bees was measured through the number of newly opened female flowers in on watermelon vines and the number of bees that visited the flower respectively. The results found that bees pollinating organic farms near biodiverse flora were able to provide full pollination services. However, as biodiversity of the surrounding area decreased, the pollination services could not meet the needs of the watermelon. The abundance of the bees also decreased in the monocultured areas because their nutritional needs where not met. The researchers concluded that plant diversity is essential in maintaining a healthy colony and warned that expansion of intensive farming will create ecosystems that cannot provide adequate nutrition for native or commercial bees (Kremen, Williams, & Thorp, 2002).
Nutritional Stress
When the polyflora does not meet the hives nutritional needs’ the bees experience nutritional stress. A consequence of this malnutrition is immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to disease. A study published by Scientific Reports analyzed how habitat depletion and loss of biodiversity impact the strength and health of the hive. Sixty-two colonies were placed in a nutritionally poor Eucalyptus grandis plantation for the season and were divided into two groups. Half of the hives received a polyfloral pollen supplement. The other hives were used as a control and did not receive supplementation. The researchers examined pollen composition, colony strength and Nosema ceranae infection. The bees that received the supplement had high concentrations of amino acids in their pollen, higher populations of adult bees and lower rates of infection over the growing season. It was concluded that nutritional stress is linked with the suppression of the immune system making bees more vulnerable to disease (Branchiccela, 2019).
Pesticides
Another area of CCD research has been pesticide exposure. Neonicotinoids have been the focus of the investigation because their debut and systemic usage have correlated with the decline of bee populations. Bayer CropScience release neonicotinoids onto the United States’ market in 1991. What was different about this pesticide at the time was that it is used as a seed dressing which allows the chemical to integrate into the plant as it grows, including the pollen. Neonicotinoids, named after its mechanism of action, bind to the post-synaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the central nervous system (CNS) and permanently prevents the binding of acetylcholine. The blockage of this pathway has been linked with several deadly outcomes such as loss of genetic diversity, homing ability and immunosuppression (Mason, Tennekes, Sánchez-Bayo, Jepsen, 2013)
The increased need for pesticide usage can be linked with the loss of biodiversity. This is because not all insects are polyphagous like bees. Many insects are monophagous, meaning they only need to feed on one crop species to survive (Di, Zhang, Zhang, Wang, & Liu 2018). Intensive farming provides this simplistic diet for pests through the planting of monocultures. Monocultures are an agricultural technique that plants one species of crops for an entire field. This gives different species of pests’ advantages because of the missing complex ecosystem that distributes resources and allows for population control. The lack of natural pesticides, that have co-evolved with insects, has increased the need for manufactured pesticide usage to sustain current agricultural practices (Lundgren, & Fausti, 2015).
Money, Power & Control: Big Agribusiness
The planting of commodity crops such as corn and soy have significantly contributed to the loss of biodiversity through the expansion of monocultures. In 1983 there was approximately 60.2 million planted acres of corn and since 2020 has expanded to over 97 million acres. Corn is also highly profitable for the United States. This crop makes up two-thirds of the grain exported from the United States and through advancements in technology the yield per acre has increased by 73.2 bushels ( Feedgrains Sector at a Glance, 2020). Its estimated economic value in 2005 was 21 billion dollars making it the most valuable crop in the United States. (Ash, Livezey, & Dohlman & 2006,) Soybean expansion has seen similar growth. Soybean farmers intend to plant 83.5 million acres in 2020, up 10% from the year before. The bushels harvested per acre has increased from 34.2 in 1991 to 53.3 in 2019 while their price has decreased from $14.40 per bushel in 2012 to $8. 75 (USDA, 2020). This has made it the second most utilized crop in the United States, valued at $17 billion in 2005 (Ash et al., 2006). The increased efficiency and profitability have contributed to the transformation of agricultural practices.
The industrialization of farming began in 1970 when Russia experienced a grain shortage. Many of the regulations put in place to control market prices of commodity crops were rolled back to allow for mass production of commodity crops including corn and soy. After Russia recovered, product flooded the market and the price of commodity crops dropped below market value making it impossible for farmers to make a profit. To stabilize prices big agribusinesses pushed policy makers to continue to support increasing crop yields and export crops to other countries. The market-driven agricultural policy forced US farmers to rely on exportation to compensate for the excess supply yet still remain dependent on subsidies. Agribusinesses benefit from this system because it allows them to buy product below market value from farmers, while the taxpayers supplement the farmers’ incomes. This current system allowed for agribusinesses such as pesticide, seed and food manufactures to make billions of dollars a year which they use to protect their interests ( Farm Bill 101, 2015). Agribusinesses use several strategies to control policy and the market which include maintaining a “revolving door,” industry published research, consolidation of power and lobbying.
Revolving Door
There are over 330 cases of employees shuffling between the USDA, EPA and several chemical and seed companies. This revolving door allows for former employees from the industry and government to work for the other and share information and insight that each organization possess with one another. This makes it easier for the corporations to maintain power and control (EcoWatch, 2016).
Industry Funded Research
Agrobusiness have also polluted evidence-based science by publishing bias industry funded studies. There are examples of this across agricultural and food processing industries. A study published in PLOS Medicine examined the conclusions of 206 nutrition related articles that were either industry or independently funded. The researchers found that the conclusions where significantly related to the funding source (Lesser, Ebbeling, Goozner, Wypij & Ludwig, 2007). This commercial bias creates confusion amongst the general population and policy makers which can have major consequences on public health. The industries follow up with strategic tobacco-style marketing to further sow doubt and slow any attempt at reform (EcoWatch, 2016).
Consolidation of Power
Merging of farms and corporations has also aided in the consolidation of power. The number of corn farms with over 500 acres has increased ( Feedgrains Sector at a Glance, 2020). Of the 2.1 million farms in the United States 80,000 or 4% of them produce 75% percent of agricultural production (A Framework for Assessing Effects of the Food System, 2015). Several mergers of chemical and seed companies have also occurred between Monsanto and Bayer as well as Dupont and Dow Chemical and has helped to contribute to the agribusiness’ oligarchy.
Lobbying
A significant causative factor to maintaining their control is contributing to political candidates’ campaigns and lobbying to support their special interests. Agribusinesses contributed $50,732,932 to candidates in the 2019 – 2020 election cycle (Agribusiness: Money to Congress, 2020). BayerScience, the creator of noenicitinoids, alone spent 9,140,000 in lobbying in 2019 to protect their profits and interests ( Client Profile: Bayer AG, 2019). Some of this money has been used to prevent the study neonicotinoids (Ecowatch, 2016). This multilayered campaign to maintain control of the market and protect their interests has been very effective at diverting attention away from their role in CCD.
Legislation: The Pollinator Protection Act
Despite the strategic interference, representatives have attempted to propose legislation at the state and federal level to address the decline in bee populations. The Pollinator Protection Act was first introduced to the United States senate by democratic senator Barbara Boxer from California. The bill authorized $9,000,000 in appropriations to the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Agricultural Research Service for various research initiatives around the country. These include research on honeybee physiology, insect pathology, insect chemical ecology, and honey, native bee toxicology and research to identify causes and solutions for Colony Collapse Disorder (Boxer, 2007). However, the bill was never put to a vote. In 2013 a new bill was introduced under the name The American Pollinator Protection Act by Democratic Representatives Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and John Conyers Jr. of Michigan. This bill proposes a joint initiative between the U.S department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior to collect more comprehensive data on wild bee populations. It also seeks to establish an independent pesticide review broad that consists of beekeepers, scientists and farmers. The bill has yet to be put to a vote and 2019 and has entered its 5th iteration. (Graber-Stiehl, 2019). However, neither bill addresses the root causes of CCD such as loss of habitat, biodiversity or climate change, factors exasperated by intensive farming utilized to meet consumer demands. In order to compressively address the decline in bee populations, the existential lifestyle of Americans must also be a part of policy reform and cultural change.
Cultural Norms: Standard American Diet (SAD)
The Standard American Diet (SAD) is a dietary pattern that consists foods that are calorie dense but devoid of micronutrients associated with disease prevention. These dietary patterners are highly influenced by aggressive and strategic marketing as well as flavor enhancing additives. The food industry mass produces inexpensive products that are hyperpalatable and exploit gustatory and visual physiology. This has created a culture of supersized portions and over consumption. The major staples of this lifestyle include corn and soy, the same monocultured crops used to make big agribusinesses multibillion-dollar industries (Nestle, 2013).
Corn and soy are both used in animal feed for meat production as well and used in processed foods. Soy is the primary protein found in animal feed and is used to make processed oils (USD, 2020). Corn is used in processed foods such as high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners ( Feedgrains Sector at a Glance, 2020). Diets high in animal products and processed foods have been linked with chronic disease and have been shown to make up a substantial portion of American’s diets (Nestle, 2013).
Authors from a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 56.2% of calories consumed by Americans are derived from major subsidized crops, which are grown in monocultures. Their study also found that the individuals that had the highest intake of commodity crops had a higher probability of cardiometabolic risk factors such as elevated C reactive protein, LDL and blood glucose levels as well as a BMI >30 and a height to waist circumference ratio of at least .60. The authors concluded that the consumption of commodity crops was significantly associated with obesity and related risk factors (Siegel, 2016). Their suggestion of aligning agricultural and nutritional policies to address the prevalence of obesity would inadvertently aid in protecting bees. Both fields of science support that polycutlures are needed to meet the nutritional needs of both bees and humans and by eating a diverse diet, both species have lower rates of disease.
Ethical Obligation of the Health Care Professional: Registered Dietitian
One group of health care professionals that have the potential to play an integral role in protecting biodiverse agriculture through the promotion of disease preventative foods are registered dietitians (RD). Registered dietitians are credentialed and licensed experts in the scientific field of nutrition. In the past agricultural has not been required curriculum for this profession. However, as the link between agriculture policy, sustainability and health becomes more established, RDs and their associations have begun to recognize their professional obligation to be involved (Vogliano, Steiber, & Brown, 2015).
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Of the three major institutions that govern the field of dietetics the professional organization, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, has been the most progressive in establishing its position on the responsibility dietitians have in promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. In 2015 nutrition leaders came together to identify areas where health and nutrition interact with agriculture and what members can do to strengthen efforts in sustainable farming. The panel of experts also sought to find ways RDs can be involved in initiatives that seek to increase availability of nutrient dense food to improve nutrition interventions. They also wanted to find ways to increase the scope of practice by expanding curriculum to better educate future professionals about the impact of agriculture. At the conclusion of the conference the academy officially recognized that dietitians have a responsibility to promote sustainable farming and protect the environment to ensure access to nutrient dense food to prevent malnutrition and chronic disease. They also believe RDs can be valuable assets in these efforts because of their unique skill set in assessing equitable diets and nutrition intervention outcomes (Vogliano et al, 2015).
The Accrediting Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
The Accrediting Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting body for nutrition and dietetics programs, includes several competencies, in both the revised and newly proposed model, for agriculture and environmental issues. For example, competence 1.1.1 requires students to be able to identify environmental factors that influence the development of disease. Sustainability is also included in competencies 1.6, 3.3.1 and 3.2 while agriculture is included in competency 3.4. (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics [AND], 2020).
Grassroot Movements
Another major effort to promote sustainable food sources has been at a grassroot level. Many individual registered dietitians have organized initiatives and incorporated environmental stewardship into their business plans or curriculum. For example, a collaboration between The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health created Menus of Change which includes environmental sustainably, social responsibly, and ethical practices into their curriculum for foodservice professionals (Bonci, 2016).
These changes indicate that the scope of the practice does include promoting sustainable practices. This change is in response to the need for experts that can fill the nutritional gap between the agriculture sector and disease prevention. One of the issues that falls under this new umbrella is the protection of safe food environments for bees. Without bees the goal of achieving nutrition capacity is impossible.
References
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