Some French Beekeepers Notice Parisian Hives Healthier Than Those In Countryside - Bloomberg

[hatrack]

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The success of a three-year-old French program to encourage beekeeping in cities, the largest such project in the world, is sparking hope of a revival among their country cousins. Global agriculture valued at 153 billion euros ($226 billion) relies on pollination by bees, says France's National Institute of Agricultural Research, or INRA. As in the U.S. and U.K., where bee colonies are dying, about 300,000 to 400,000 French hives disappeared every year between 1995 and 2007, victims of pesticides, pollution and disease.

EDIT

In Europe, about 84 percent of crop species depend directly on insect pollinators, especially bees, says a June report co- authored by Bernard Vaissiere, head of research at the Avignon, France-based INRA. France is Europe's biggest agricultural producer. ``There is mounting evidence of pollinator decline all over the world and consequences in many agricultural areas could be significant,'' the report said.

Jean Paucton, who's kept bees on the roof of Paris's opera house for about 25 years, has seen that rural decline first hand. The retired opera house accessory artist says his hives overlooking the Galeries Lafayette department store in central Paris are healthier than the ones he keeps in the country.

Paucton's city hives produce 450 kilograms of honey a year. He sells little jars of it to the opera house gift shop for about 4 euros, which are resold for 14.50 euros. Paucton, 75, said losses in the countryside can be as much as 50 percent, while the number in the city doesn't even approach 5 percent. Some years, he doesn't lose any in the city, he said. ``The harvest is worse and worse in the countryside,'' he said. ``There aren't farmers anymore. There are only agricultural companies and they use pesticides.''

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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aUzPpUDCkSKM&refer=europe

[madaboutharry]

1. It must be the good shopping.

:)

[hatrack]

2. Or maybe the pate?

I wonder how bees express joie de vivre? Circle Dance?

Or maybe they can-can? With six legs each, that would likely be a hoot.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. And dee-licious food!

:9

[Nihil]

4. Telling quote:

> "The harvest is worse and worse in the countryside," he said.
> "There aren't farmers anymore. There are only agricultural companies
> and they use pesticides."


:-(

[Indenturedebtor]

5. Yep "I'll take spots on my apples, leave me the birds and the bees please." n/t