Audio By Carbonatix
Colony collapse disorder got you down? Well, it should, but there might be a bit of good news for lovers of honey, butterflies, and basically our entire ecosystem. President Barack Obama recently signed a memorandum setting up a governmental task force to come up with a plan on how we can protect pollinators, according to the Wall Street Journal.
See also: 5 Things to Know About Arizona Honey
The inter-agency group will be charged with the task of coming up with the U.S.’s first strategy for combating adverse conditions for and the decline of pollinators, which include bees, butterflies, and bats.
Recently, the decline in bee populations has caused concern because of the impact they have on our food supply. In fact, it’s estimated that one in three bites of food eaten in our county contain something pollinated by a bee.
When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
Not only that, but the Wall Street Journal article quotes a White House spokesperson who says that the government has a vested interest in protecting crop pollinators because it is a $24 billion industry in the U.S. The Agriculture Department already received $8 million in funds to incentivize farmers who make new habitats for honeybees.
