Bees, a victim of chemical pesticides, may provide the best solution to their use.
Image: Brian Wolfe via Flickr CC

A growing desire to end the use of chemical pesticides is causing farmers to look for new creative solutions to preserve crop yields.  In a perfect ecological solution, one of the biggest victims of chemical pesticides may be just the thing. 

Strawberry farmers in the United Kingdom are using a special system that deploys bees loaded with fungus spores to deposit onto the berry flowers while they pollinate.  The fungus spores outcompete with the blight known as grey mold, a condition that makes the strawberries mushy and unsellable.  The fungus is native to the United Kingdom and is nontoxic to plants, animals and people.

The system was developed by a Belgian company and is currently being field tested in a project backed by the office of the Department for Environment.  While the fungus is sometimes used in spray form, the use of bees is new and if effective will be more efficient.  A spray can only affect flowers that are currently open, while bees will visit each blossom at the prime time for application, as well as help to pollinate the crop.

Meanwhile, other projects to control pests naturally are also in trials.   The trials are coming in the wake of heavy losses in the wet year of 2012.  The Department for Environment hopes that natural solutions will solve crop loss issues more efficiently and sustainably.  It may also help dwindling bee populations, as farmers will be more motivated to raise bees if they are also a fungicide.  The bee system, known as “flying doctors,” will also be used on cherry orchards and raspberry plants.  The UK relies heavily economically on the fruit industry and is welcoming to any crop protection available.