Common questions

SITE: www.semabelhasemalimento.com.br

APLICATIVO BEE ALERT: www.semabelhasemalimento.com.br/beealert

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com.br/beeornottobe

E-MAIL ON THE CAMPAIGN: contato@semabelhasemalimento.com.br

E-MAIL SOBRE O BEE ALERT: beealert@semabelhasemalimento.com.br

The campaign initiative Without Bee, No food is a group of researchers from CETAPIS (Technological Center of Beekeeping and Meliponiculture), together with marketing agency 6P & Propaganda Ltda, both from Brazil. The petition for the protection of bees led to signature of the President of CETAPIS, scientist and researcher in the genetics of bees by USP in Ribeirão Preto, prof. Lionel Segui Gonçalves, and the Director General of the 6P, Daniel Gonçalves Malusa. Try-se, therefore, a national initiative, but with international scope.

The campaign was launched in October 2013, during the International Apimondia Congress in KIEV / Ukraine.

The campaign includes some essential support: CBA (Brazilian Confederation of Beekeeping), APIMONDIA (Internaciola Beekeeping Association), FILAPI (Iberolatinoamericana Beekeeping Federation) and Abemel (Association of Honey Exporters from Brazil). Also has the support of USP-RP and UFERSA-RN.

In January 2014, the organization Bee or not to be partnered with the Pollinators Project Brazil to bring important studies on the benefits and pollination management plans for the cotton crop, cashew, canola, chestnut, Apple, melon and tomato.

The campaign has clear objectives: first educate our society on the importance of bees, expanding its vision, usually restricted to the production activities of apiculture by-products, como mel, wax, propolis, royal jelly and venom; we want to emphasize that bees, main pollinating insects nature (and are over 20 thousand species in the world), have great relevance in agricultural activities for pollinating over 70% of agricultural crops and 85% of flowering plants of our biodiversity. Like this, besides contributing to the generation of food, also contribute to the revitalization of our flora, is, consequently, for generating oxygen on the planet. We want to make a purposeful call for society to understand the importance of bees and to take care in preserving them. The campaign also wants to give clarity to our society and its leaders and show that beekeeping is facing its biggest challenge, which is the phenomenon of the decline and disappearance of bees and what it can bring as a consequence. This problem, to have ample reasons, It is still controversial in scientific circles, but its causes indicate a strong responsibility for the actions of man in his relationship with nature, and will have great impact on the food supply in the future. Our claim is that the issue of the disappearance of bees from a staff, concrete and rapid, of research, Investment and combat its causes, the various initiatives of civil society and especially, governmental. We understand that beekeeping is part of a delicate ecological balance, and to insert into the broader context of the supply chain field. Ignore the bees is to go against the principles of sustainability, and will pay a high price in the future by ignoring the evolution of this problem.

Signing the petition for Protection of Bees is one of the referendums that aim. It is a tool to have a say in the government, their political and business representatives, and organized civil society. The focus is on the results of this support to organizations such as the Ministry of Agriculture (MAP), Ministry of the Environment, Ibama, our congressmen and the media in general, pressing them to take advantage in favor of this issue following, in Brazil, without much attention. But, we also want, the international force that our campaign has gained from the APIMONDIA event 2013 – em agencies as FILAPI (Iberolatinoamericana Beekeeping Federation), a APIMONDIA (International Federation of Beekeeping) e a FAO (The United Nations Food and Agriculture) They recognized and supported our initiative – present the results to the world organizations, as the FAO itself. Our intention is to expand an international joint, that can give visibility to a problem that can affect a large portion of the population in the world.

It should be noted that this is the first campaign in Latin America to have this purpose and this initiative.

Like this, We summarize our goals the following points:

1) aware the public about the importance of bees to man and the environment;

2) mobilize leaders for immediate action to support actions investigate, identify and combat quickly causes the disappearance of bees or CCD;

3) launch a formal document to support the cause of bees: a petition for protection of bees, which can be signed the site (www.semabelhasemalimento.com.br);

4) position the activity of beekeeping and beekeeping as a key link of the agricultural production chain, and that the application of the concepts of sustainability in the countryside pass by respect its main pollinators;

5) lead propositional concepts how citizens can interact and help protect bees.

Sim, bee with stinger, stingless, social and solitary. In Brazil there are more than 3 thousand species, and not the whole world, more than 20 one thousand. All have also suffered threats of disappearance. Obviously,, world not everything, The bee genrepis, for being the most used bee and monitored in beekeeping, It is the one that expresses the effects of this phenomenon.

However, the vulnerability of the species, there is no research to answer which bee species are more or less vulnerable. However, due to the synergistic effect of different causes (pesticides, deforestation, diseases, Mites, malnutrition, stress, inadequate practices, etc.), bees are becoming more sensitive and less resistant to causative agents, succumb more easily.

In Brazil there is no conclusive study on the causes of this problem, but the effects of the defensive action have been the major cause of death of bees in the incidents recorded in the Bee Alert application.

At the end of March 2014, the organization of the campaign "Bee or not to be?"Launched an application for the registration of deaths and significant losses of bees in apiaries. It is the first online platform to record the disappearance of occurrences or loss of bees by geolocation.

With this tool, beekeepers and researchers around the world will be able to document and publicize the instances of this phenomenon, providing important information on the intensity and locations of events, pointing out their generated and causes damage, giving everyone the real scale of the problem.

This is an easy to use and secure application, which can be accessed on any computer, smartphone ou tablet, and is presented in Portuguese, English and Spanish. It can also be downloaded for free in the Apple Store and Google Play stores.

This collaborative platform aims to be a primary channel for the occurrence can be documented, and generate technical and scientific information important for the evaluation of the problem.

We are still at an early stage of use of this application, and noted some challenges to overcome: low access to technological knowledge by beekeepers and beekeepers, I fear them in detail and report occurrences and ignorance of the existence tool.

In March 2014, the application already had significant results, about 12 thousand lost hives, more than 100 documented cases and mais na AL 700 million dead bees.

By mid-March / 2015, the campaign reached about 22.500 signatures on the petition, plus over 21.000 seguidores no Facebook. Numbers that are substantially still growing everyday. More than 40 signatories to the petition.

Another important aspect of results of the campaign are the numerous articles in newspapers, large circulation magazines and also on TV, about the problem and the importance of bees. The campaign has already been addressed in vehicles such as Folha de São Paulo, O Estado de SP, Valor Econômico, Veja magazine, Globo, TV Record, SBT, among others.

No aplicativo Bee Alert, We last 12 months until February / 2015, more than 100 cases were reported in Brazil (95% do total), Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru and Colombia. Inferimos a perda de cerca de 700 million of gender bees Apis, plus thousands of native bees.

The problem the bees' death is still a controversial issue and no consensus in the world, although there are many causes identified as responsible for the CCD phenomenon, including the varroa mite, or fungus Nosema, climate and pesticides.

We believe that there is great interdependence of factors, causing a synergistic effect. But in relation to the death of bees in Brazil, We found a very significant effect of the action of systemic pesticides on bees in different regions of the country, probably because Brazil is the largest consumer of this product in the world. This should be, SIM, a central cause.

Climatic factors involving drought and climate temperature have been representative, mainly in northeastern Brazil, even on a regional basis. We also have the serious problem of deforestation and forest fires, that exterminate entire swarms of native bees, in addition to reducing the nesting areas and food, often compromising the gene flow between species.

Regarding mites (Varroa), due to the significant resistance of Africanized bees, polihibrido between European races and the African race A. m. scutellata, the only kind of bee today throughout the national territory, unlike other countries where there is the varroatose, in Brazil this mite does not respond by the high bee mortality rates. More than 20 varroatose years occurs in Brazil, especially in the southern states, however, at low rates (3 a 8%) Dispensing the treatment acaricide or any other chemical treatments.

We know that productivity in the field depends on the use of pesticides to combat the numerous pests. This is a productive gain that must be observed, but not at the expense of the side effects of the death of bees. We advocate the development and use of resources to combat pests that are not harmful to bees. This can be done either through the development of pesticides not adversely bees, By correct application practices, or by the use of biological pest control. Europe has adopted a preventive policy, which was preemptively ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, Systemic, identified as main causes elements of the CCD phenomenon.

Do not we have this statistic needs. But there are literatures that attach to the pollination services 10% the value of agricultural GDP.

The Bee Alert project is a unique initiative, and an example of using technology to protect bees. An online platform, Collaborative (crowdsourcing) and of great importance to gather data about the problem of loss of bees by geolocation, identifying their causes.

No world all, many research is being done, and yet still we highlight the use of microchips, positioned on the back of bees to track their foraging behavior, pointing out the paths and places visited by them in pollen and nectar harvest. It is also a beautiful study that may indicate what is happening to the bees in the field.

O Cetapis-RN (Technological Center of Beekeeping and Meliponiculture of Rio Grande do Norte) e a 6P Marketing & Propaganda Ltd. are the companies running, from Brazil, this international initiative, only na Latin America. The practical experience of more than 50 years in research, projects, national and international conferences, theses guidelines and academic projects, proximity to the producer, in addition to the sharp eye to the problem of the disappearance of bees, caused Prof.. Lionel Segui Gonçalves, after retiring from USP and transfer to Mossoro-RN and RN-created Cetapis, upon learning of the world's CCD phenomenon (Colony Colapse desorder), It identified the urgent need to create a broad campaign to protect bees, objetivasse that show their important role for the environment and man. Met, therefore, forces, supported by the voluntary initiative of the 6P Agency, which structures and commands all the campaign's communication strategy.

Unfortunately, in view of the organizers of this initiative, the importance of beekeeping and beekeeping activity on the margins of the agricultural production chain in Brazil, that favors agricultural models strongly guided to combat pests by the intensive use of pesticides. Besides, since the beekeeping area of ​​deployment in the country, very little support from the government has been given to the development of this activity as much as the beekeeping.

On our site we show 10 the average citizen ways to make a contribution, We emphasize that:

• Support the campaign to protect bees;
• Se for um apicultor ou meliponicultor, registering cases of deaths or significant losses of bees in the campaign application: Bee Alert;
• Plant flowers and trees bee flora;
• Consuming organic products and be a conscious consumer, that values ​​the products of companies aligned favorably with sustainability issues and concerns about the bees and the environment;
• Favoring urban beekeeping: have a hive of stingless bees at home is a great initiative;
• Protect bees and their habitat;
• Question our leaders and public officials on how they intend to pay attention and solution to the disappearance of bees problems.

Our campaign has clear objectives:

1) aware the public about the importance of bees to man and the environment;

2) mobilize leaders for immediate action to support actions investigate, identify and combat quickly causes the disappearance of bees or CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder);

3) launch a formal document to support the cause of the bees site www.semabelhasemalimento.com.br;

4) position the activity of beekeeping and beekeeping as a key link of the agricultural production chain, and that the application of the concepts of sustainability in the countryside pass by respect its main pollinators;

5) lead propositional concepts how citizens can interact and help protect bees and the environment.

In none of them express be contrary to the agrochemical industry. We know the importance of some of these products for productivity in the field. However, although bee mortality is a controversial topic in scientific circles, is a growing indication that the cause of bee mortality falls on the extensive use of pesticides in the field, particularly on the category of systemic pesticides called neonicotinoids and others who cause damage to bees, como o fipronil. These products, in addition it has a residual effect on the plant, They are highly toxic to bees, who do not resist or to direct contact and not by pollen or nectar eating contaminated. Several studies have proving the direct link of these products with the decline of pollinators - this, inclusive, justified the temporary ban on the use of neonicotinoids in the European Economic Community (CEE), and also the recent determination (jun/2014) do Presidente Barack Obama, so that a specific, emergency task force were conducted in the US, in order to enter into a position of the government on mortality of pollinators.

Therefore, it is expected that the industry is moving towards finding ways to mitigate the damage caused by the use of its products, seeking to avoid that extreme measures may affect its business. We remember that Brazil is the largest user of pesticides in the world. The most important, However, is the realization that the primary reason for the problem lies in the fact that pollinating insects and neonicotinoid pesticides have zero compatibility: minimum lethal doses producing effects for the bees.

We imagine that the industry is pursuing the development of "non-toxic" to bees - a complex exercise that will surely require time. And I think that the ideal is that combat surveys were encouraged to pests with biological control techniques.

We also believe it is on the agenda of this industry expand management linked to its responsibility on the means of implementation of their products, who have also been direct source of numerous problems with beekeepers and bees in the field. Refer to, in this case, care with the application of pesticides by air, the right time application, the issue of guidance in the leaflets, and awareness of their own farmers. There is a Instruction MAP which forces the producer to warn beekeepers who have hives at a distance of up to 6km away from their culture, with 48 hours in advance, on aerial spraying activities. This would give the beekeeper a chance to move their hives or close them during this process, reducing the impact on bees. Obviously it is necessary to elaborate the question: and wild bees, present in nature? Those who warns of pesticide application?

The truth is that this is not a simple solution to problem. But we believe it is urgently necessary for us to review the means of production in the field - they need to consider the pollination services as a strategic element, as important as the presence of water, care for the soil, the weather, the seed or the pest management.

We want our leaders to be guided cause this issue.

Our work is like that of a bee: to make a kilo of honey, You need to visit 5 million flowers, one by one. We are careful to pollinate this topic, making the general public aware of. We are doing this voluntarily, with the unconditional support of people who understand the fundamental role of bees for the balance of our ecosystem, and for the benefit of man himself. It is very rewarding when we see that our "aggressive marketing" pollinates a flower, since the birth of the fruit is immediately.

A campaign was launched in the biggest event of the world beekeeping: a APIMONDIA (International Federation of Beekeepers and bee Institutions) which brings together representatives of mais 100 countries, which occurred in October 2013, Ukraine. De lá the cá, got many support institutions linked to national and international Beekeeping, Media Support - which has shown very interested in this subject - and also people of good. Gathered more than 22 thousand signatures on our petition, and we are followed on social networks for more than 21 thousand. But we want more - and so we ask people to access our site and know the background risks of the decline of pollinators: www.semabelhasemalimento.com.br.

The partnership with Pollinators Project Brazil was established in January 2015, and it started from the premise that both initiatives were aimed at the objective of making people aware of the importance of bees and the need for its protection. From there it was easy to find common understanding of ways.

Like this, Without the Bee campaign, No food has partnered with Brazil's Pollinators Project to bring important studies on the benefits and pollination management plans for 7 cultures. They are articles, scientific publications and videos geared to farmers and also beekeepers, which can be accessed through the website www.semabelhasemalimento.com.br

More about the Pollinators Project Brazil

In order to better understand the importance of pollinators and pollination in agricultural development, the Pollinators Project Brazil, coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment, conducted research and training and awareness activities over the last four years. Housed in an international initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization – FAO funded by the Global Fund for the Environment (GEF – Global Environmental Facility) and has the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund - Funbio as Executive Agency, the project focuses its efforts on seven important crops in Brazil.

The Pollinators Project Brazil integrates national institutions in large research networks, with significant results in sustainable management in pollination networks of cultivated plants, such as cotton, chestnut, cashew, canola, melon, apple and tomato.