An Exploratory Analysis of California and North Carolina Stakeholders' Perceptions of Honey Bee Decline

Abstract

Honey bees contribute over $15 billion to crop production value every year in the United States, pollinating one-third of the American diet. However, over the last thirty years, honey bee colonies in the U.S. have faced several significant threats to their health, resulting in an average annual hive loss of 33% over the last ten years. This study explores 31 California and North Carolina stakeholders’ opinions on honey bee health through one-hour, individual interviews in order to assess the perceived challenges and potential solutions to honey bee decline. Across stakeholder groups, more than half of the participants identified pathogens and pests, forage and nutrition, and pesticides as primary concerns, and all interviewees offered meaningful ideas to address this pressing issue.