"Feed a Bee" initiative to plant 50 million flowers in 2015

Fifty million pledges have been received from approximately 200,000 people who have joined an initiative to support bee health by pledging to plant flowers, the Feed a Bee campaign announced Tuesday.

Bee population shrinkages and overall bee health have been a concern for conservationists and agriculture specialists as they are an important pollinating species. Without them, many crops grown in the U.S. would not be able to be planted.

Scientists do not have consensus to a singular cause, but they point to a number of factors including increases in colony infections and lack of foraging areas. The Feed a Bee campaign aims to aid in the latter by people pledging to grow flowers.

“The fact that the Feed a Bee initiative has already met its goal to plant 50 million flowers is a testament to the passion of individuals and organizations to support pollinator health,” Bayer CropScience LP North America CEO and President Jim Blome said. “While this is a great initial step for Feed a Bee, we know there is more work to be done to allow these amazing creatures to thrive, and we don’t plan to stop here.”

The Feed a Bee program is a part of the larger Bee Care Program from Bayer. Other facets of this effort are the North American Bee Care Center based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and awarding and recognizing the efforts of exemplary beekeepers in improving local communities.