Bee Recovery Bill Passes House

A bill designed to help scientists understand and reverse the "Colony Collapse Disorder" that is mysteriously leading to the disappearance of honey bees, the Pollinator Protection Act, passed the House of Representatives today as part of the 2007 Farm Bill.

The $86.5 million five-year program, if approved by the senate, would make available money for research and grant programs at the Department of Agriculture. Studies have estimated that pollinators are required to make about one third of the food supply viable, and that their contribution to the econmy is worth about $15-18 billion.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California). "California''s almond crop alone is worth $2 billion per year and requires nearly one half all the honey bees in the country," Boxer said. "The future of that crop and other important crops such as avocados, apples, berries and soybeans is in jeopardy if there aren''t enough bees to pollinate them for harvest.”

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