World Bee Day: Impact of Bees on Ecosystems and Agriculture

🐝 World Bee Day Special – Protecting Pollinators for a Sustainable Future

Bees are essential to pollination and food production, but their populations are facing serious decline. In this special episode, we dive into the critical role bees play in our ecosystem and how agriculture and biodiversity can coexist and flourish.

Sandra Meixner sits down with Heinrich Kersten, a mechanical engineer and dedicated beekeeper, to discuss how simple adjustments in spraying schedules can help safeguard bee colonies and boost crop yields—a win-win for both nature and farming.

Don’t miss out on this fascinating conversation, and be sure to check out our 2024-25 Honey Testing Annual Report for more insights.

Speakers:

• Sandra Meixner – Regulatory Expert at Intertek
• Heinrich Kersten – Engineer & Beekeeper

Tune in now to learn more!

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Transcript

Sandra Meixner: 
And welcome to Henry Kirsten, who's joining me today as an expert. 
We want to talk about bees, especially today because it's World Bee Day. I think this is a very interesting topic. 
The bee and the role of the bees in pollination—we hear really horrifying stories about the massive die-off of bees over winter and overall of insects in our world, and I hope we can clarify some points today. 
So, hello Henry. Good to see you. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Yeah, hello Sandra. 
Thank you very much. 
May I introduce myself? 
I'm Heinrich Kersten, a mechanical engineer and hobby beekeeper since 1984. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Here, interestingly, on this 10-hectare field of rape, for example, 10%. 
That's the value of €1900, and to close the circle, that's the reason why I appreciate working together with the farmers, and for nearly €2000, it's worthwhile. 
Touring the beekeeper up and saying, ask for supporting them with bees in order to have good pollination. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Oh, yeah, that makes a lot of sense. 
So, it's the bee's importance for our food and for our environment so that we can have all different kinds of food, right? 
That's flowering. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
The flowering is not only rape. For example, if you have a look at cherries or apples, they all need to be pollinated. 
By insects, but focused on good pollination. 
It's a perfect system with bees. 
That's it. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Yeah. So, you work together with the farmers, and they call you, and when it's flowering, you take the beehives to their farms. 

Heinrich Kersten:
Yes, yes, for example.
Because the flowering of the rape is an essential, let's say, nectar point.
That guarantees that the beehives have a good development.
But on the other side, there might be a focus of different interests, why the bees are going to fly to the rape fields.
They fly about 5 or 7 kilometers, anyway, in order to gather this nectar. On the other side, there are certain small insects.
For example, a German beetle called Habsglanskafer—that's a small animal, and if they are in high volume there, the harvest of the rape will break down.
The farmers, of course, are allowed to use chemical spraying in order to save their harvest. On the other side, the beekeepers offer their bees for the pollination.
So, thinking about this, I had a curious idea. The idea was bees are not amphibians and do not need to be showered. The first moment, in the first moment, this sounds very crazy.
And following this idea, I had contact with Doctor Bruce and Dr. Weiler of the Kerchine Bee Institute or University of Hornheim.
I asked them, is it worthwhile to get in contact with the farmers and ask them if it is possible to do the spraying after the bees are in the hive because it's too cold or in the late evening?
Curiously, on the ingredient Boscalid—this is popular and used in spraying on rape.
I asked both experts, and they told me that using the active ingredient Boscalid showed that the active ingredient in bee colonies is already 10 times lower just a few hours later after spraying compared to collecting activity during the day.
That means the farmers are allowed to do the spraying all day, but then, of course, all the bees would be showered.
In 2016, I went to the first farmer here in the countryside and asked him, "Are you able to do the spraying in the late evening?"
He asked for the time; we looked at the temperature, and he did the spraying, and it worked.
Then, of course, the next question is, is this just visual thinking, or is this practical, and what to do?
This was the way I had contact with Intertek and told them we have here springtime honey of rape, and I want to analyze this honey, especially on these Boscalid residues that have been documented.
In the field chart of the farmer, it was not that cheap, but they evaluated more than 600 parameters.
Curiously, even Boscalid was below, as they called it NN, and in this case, the circle is closing. 
The farmers, of course, realize these beekeepers are not crazy. This is basic, oriented, and a way to come together. 
On this platform, we have cooperated for several years, and it's getting bigger and bigger because the farmers get a higher harvest. 
I mentioned the value—not only 5 to 10%, but the value and all the other sides. If the ingredients of the spraying are not inside the honey, they shouldn't be inside the colonies, inside the beehives. 
So happy days on both sides. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Oh, wow, that's impressive. 
So, it's just a question of timing then that we don't find these active ingredients or pesticides in our food chain, which is in the honey or even in the bees. I think for the bees, it's not good to have a shower like this as well, right, that they... 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Yes, yes, yeah, yes. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Live longer. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Yeah, that's interesting. 
And the farmers work together. 
And I mean, it's just a timing question, right? 

Heinrich Kersten:
Yes, yes, and we had a few press releases here, starting with one.
This was not only one evaluation with Intertek. We did it over three years; you can imagine it took a lot of money.
But after three years, we are on the safe side.
It's not coincidentally happening this way, and we did have a few press releases.
Also, in the so-called Deutsche Bin Journal and in Berlin.
And even there is a link on the homepage where it could be read.
So, this is impressive in how to handle the farmers. For example, if they do the spraying after certain quantities of these Ratskanskeepers are inside there, then they ask their experts what to do—spraying or not. 
Optimize spraying is in the evening, if there's no wind because the spraying shouldn't be dripping to other fields. 
For example, the farmer here calls me, "Hey, tomorrow I should do my spraying. What do you think about the starting time?" 
How long will the bees fly to have it? 
In short words, what to do? 
I look at my actual weather, and then it's about 19 or 20. 
20 in the evening, a time when other farmers are not working in any case in the field, and he is doing this. 
Additionally, this has to be done until 23:00 (11:00 PM), because the spraying on the rape must be fixed over the night in order to avoid that the first water pickers of the bees on the next morning are looking for water overnight. 
Water, in order to bring it into the hive. 
Finally, it's a really win-win situation on both sides. 
We appreciate selling natural honey as hobby beekeepers. 
We are on the safe side, and the beekeepers, the farmers, of course, appreciate it as they get a higher harvest and, ultimately, a higher income. 

Sandra Meixner: 
A win-win for everybody with sustainable food. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Yes, yes, a win for everybody. Yeah. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Sounds good. 
Really interesting. 
Thank you, Heinrich. 
Maybe more in the next podcast about this really interesting approach, and I wish you a happy B-day. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Yes, thank you for everything, Sandra. 
I appreciate that we stay in contact and we will continue with this very interesting matter. 
Thank you very much. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Yes, sir. 
Thank you. Bye. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Bye. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Welcome, Heinrich Kirsten, who's joining me today as an expert. 
We want to talk about bees, especially regarding their role in pollination. I think this is a very interesting topic. 
We often hear concerning stories about massive bee die-offs over winter, and the general decline in insect populations. I hope we can clarify some of those points today. 
So, hello Heinrich, good to see you! 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Hello, Sandra. Thank you very much for having me. 
Let me introduce myself – I’m Heinrich Kersten, a mechanical engineer and a hobby beekeeper since 1984. 

Sandra Meixner: 
So, Heinrich, tell us more about the importance of bees. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Yes, bees play a crucial role in pollination. For example, on a 10-hectare field of rapeseed, about 10% of the value, approximately €1900, is directly tied to the pollination process. This is why I appreciate working with farmers – for nearly €2000, their harvest depends on proper pollination. Beekeepers help by offering their bees for effective pollination. 

Sandra Meixner: 
So, bees are crucial for our food production and environment. They ensure we can have various types of food, right? 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Exactly. Pollination is essential not only for crops like rapeseed but also for fruits like cherries and apples. All these plants require pollination from insects, particularly bees. It’s a perfect system. 

Sandra Meixner: 
You work with farmers, and when flowering happens, you take the beehives to their farms. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Yes, exactly. For example, during the flowering of rapeseed, which is a crucial nectar source, I bring the hives to the farms to ensure proper bee development and optimal pollination. 

Sandra Meixner: 
It sounds like there’s more to it, especially when bees fly to nearby fields. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Yes, bees typically fly about 5-7 kilometers to gather nectar, but there are risks involved. If there are pests, such as the German "Habsglanskafer," in the fields, the rapeseed harvest can be affected. Farmers may need to use chemical sprays to protect their crops. However, if done correctly, we can avoid affecting the bees. 

Sandra Meixner: 
So, it’s about timing, making sure the spraying happens when the bees are safely in the hive? 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Exactly. I worked with experts to determine that spraying after the bees are back in their hives, ideally in the late evening when it’s cooler, is the best approach. This ensures the bees are not affected. 

Sandra Meixner: 
That makes sense. It’s all about making sure the chemicals don’t harm the bees. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Yes, and after testing honey samples with Intertek, we found that even with spraying, the chemical levels in the honey were significantly lower than expected. This ensures both the bees and the farmers are safe. 

Sandra Meixner: 
That’s impressive! So, with the right timing, we can avoid contamination in the food chain and help the bees thrive. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Yes, exactly. This collaboration between beekeepers and farmers is key to maintaining healthy pollination systems while ensuring food safety. 

Sandra Meixner: 
It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved – farmers, beekeepers, and ultimately, consumers. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Indeed, it is. It’s a sustainable approach that benefits all parties. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Thank you so much for sharing your insights, Heinrich. We look forward to learning more in future discussions. 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Thank you, Sandra. I appreciate staying in contact and continuing to explore this important topic. 

Sandra Meixner: 
Thank you, Heinrich. Goodbye! 

Heinrich Kersten: 
Goodbye!