No bee, no coffee!

The decline in bee populations has had a significant impact on agriculture particularly coffee cultivation. Nobody would ask you to wake up and smell the coffee any longer.

Coffee production in Latin America relies on bees and other pollinators for fertilization, but bee populations have been declining in the region due to habitat loss and pesticide use. This has led to reduced yields and lower quality coffee beans, adversely hitting the farm economy.

There have been reports of declines in bee populations and the potential impact on coffee production in several countries in Latin America, including Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

According to a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in 2019, coffee production in Latin America was impacted by the loss of pollinators, including bees. The study found that bee pollination increased coffee yields by an average of 30% in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, and up to 50% in Costa Rica. The loss of bees and other pollinators could, therefore, lead to reduced yields and lower-quality coffee beans.

In Brazil, a study published in the journal Apidologie in 2018 found that bee populations were declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. The decline in bee populations has raised concerns about the sustainability of coffee production in the country, which is one of the world's largest coffee producers.

Similarly, in Colombia, a report by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in 2017 found that coffee production was threatened by the loss of pollinators, including bees. The report noted that bee populations were declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and diseases.

In Costa Rica, a study published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment in 2018 found that bee populations were declining due to habitat loss and pesticide use. The study noted that coffee production in the country was dependent on bee pollination, and that the loss of pollinators could lead to reduced yields and lower-quality coffee beans.

Costa Rica is also a popular destination for ecotourism, and beekeeping tours are a popular activity for visitors. However, the decline in bee populations has led to reduced opportunities for ecotourism, which has had economic consequences for local communities.