National Pollinator Week: June 16–22, 2014
What is pollination, and what's the problem?
Pollination is a critical stage in the life cycle of all flowering plants. Pollen must be moved within a flower, or carried from one flower to another of the same species, in order for fertilization to occur. This pollen transfer is essential for a healthy and productive ecosystem—both native and agricultural.
Around 75 percent of all flowering plant species need the help of pollinators to survive. Unfortunately, honeybees have been disappearing en masse since 2006. Last winter, beekeepers across the country lost 23 percent of their hives, in addition to a staggering 20 percent during the spring and summer months.
Get the facts from Center for Food Safety.
Image: Sze Fei Wong/iStock/Thinkstock