Bayer applauds Obama strategy to promote pollinator health

Bayer CropScience today commended President Obama’s call for extensive new research into all areas of pollinator health and the unprecedented commitment to increase pollinator habitat and storage.

The president’s Pollinator Task Force’s National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators was released today, and Bayer called it a “balanced and multifaceted” approach. Many of Bayer’s ongoing pollinator initiatives mirror specific recommendations included in the national strategy.

Bayer has worked for nearly 30 years to study and improve pollinator health, particularly managing honey bee colonies that are important to the food supply. The company has collaborated with researchers to understand the factors affecting honey bee health, helped beekeepers control the dangerous Varroa mite, expanded education and outreach on pollinator health and increased forage for all pollinators.

Bayer CropScience’s North American Bee Program Head Becky Langer said the national strategy is a strong statement in favor of improving pollinator health.

“While bee populations are not declining, they face many complex challenges, some of which we’re only just beginning to fully understand,” Langer said. “Improving honey bee health will take a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the public, and this strategy will help provide a framework for our collective response.”