Food Environment Related To Bee Population Decline ✓ Solved

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Food environment related to the Decline in Bee Populations

Would approaching the food environment related to the decline in bee populations as a public health issue decrease rates of chronic disease for Americans? This paper investigates the scientific, economic, societal, and ethical need of approaching the decline in bee populations as a public health issue from a registered dietitian’s perspective. Bees provide essential pollination services to crops that have been linked with decreased chronic diseases. Their decline in population could lead to shortages of produce and a continued increase in unhealthy food environments in America.

The Pubmed and Florida International University databases were used to find academic articles that fit specific criteria. The search terms used included decline in bee populations, biodiversity, agriculture, micronutrients, chronic disease, and public health. The population focus was Americans because these individuals are at an increased risk of chronic disease and higher healthcare costs due to unhealthy food environments. The scientific and economic perspectives suggest that production and availability of fruits and vegetables is essential for agricultural revenue as well as decreasing medical costs for chronic diseases. The cultural and ethical perspectives suggest that the standard American diet is the driving force of the decline in bee populations.

Demand for processed foods and animal products has supported the expansion of monocultured crops as well as market and political control by the large agricultural industry. These agricultural practices provide nutritionally inadequate diets for both bees and humans and work to derail environmental policy. The profession of dietetics has recognized its role in preventing chronic disease and supporting environmental stewardship - a fundamental component in protecting the pollinators responsible for producing the foods that fight chronic disease. Therefore, a preventative approach to the decline in bee populations would have environmental, medical, and economic advantages. Protecting bee populations through education, research, and comprehensive policy change promotes biodiversity, continued profitability of nutrient-dense produce, and decreases medical costs.

A food environment is defined as the availability and accessibility of food for a community. It is influenced by policy, cultural and social norms, the physical environment, and economics. The food environment has a direct impact on the health status of its inhabitants. Healthy food environments provide access to nutrient-dense foods that prevent disease. One arising issue that threatens the production of disease-preventive foods is the decline in the honeybee, the world’s most essential pollinator.

The decline in hive populations has been documented all over the world, including the countries that the United States imports produce from in the winter months. Americans are at a particular disadvantage because much of the current food environments are obesogenic and do not support fruit and vegetable consumption. The effect of this can be seen in the high rates of chronic illness and medical costs. If a shortage of produce were to occur, the situation would exacerbate an already existing public health issue. A public health issue is a socio-structural condition that can influence the health of the public.

In comparison, medicine focuses on treating the individual. The advantage of labeling a health disparity as a public health issue is that it has the potential to increase funding for research, intervention programs, and policy changes to help close gaps in inequalities through prevention. The purpose of this paper is to present evidence that the decline in the honeybee population should be approached from a public health perspective to both protect bees and provide healthy food environments for Americans.

Complex economic and cultural shifts have led to changes in food environments for both bees and Americans. The consequences of these shifts include environmental destruction, a decline in bee populations, potential decrease of disease-fighting crops, and the creation of an agriculture oligarchy. The solution to such an interrelated and far-reaching problem will require cross-collaboration between policymakers and several fields of science to create legislative changes and prevention programs.

Future policy reform that views this issue through a preventive lens must be more comprehensive than past proposals. New legislation will need to include language that allocates funding for several programs such as independent research, beekeeper and dietitian education programs, monitoring bee populations, and protection of habitat. It will also need to address the modification of farming practices, “revolving door” policies, and banning of neonicotinoids. Primary prevention programs that focus on interventions that are beneficial for both bees and humans would improve colony survival and decrease rates of chronic illness.

This is possible by promoting diets that support biodiverse habitats. Recommending an increase in plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds provides nutritionally adequate diets for bees and humans. This also decreases the expansion of monocultures which provide nutrient-poor diets and promote disease in both species. Investment in intensive farming is defended by large agricultural businesses and governmental agencies because it allows for higher yields of crops per acre.

They argue that this decreases the need for expansion and can help to provide food for a growing population. However, reports published on the USDA website and in PubMed show that corn and soy farmers plan on continued farmland development and that these crops are a major contributing factor to chronic illness. The farther farming moves from biodiversity the farther it becomes from the fundamental principles of nature that evolved to balance and protect life. The health of bee colonies is an example of humans’ interconnectedness and dependence on their environment.

The evidence supports that continuing trends will lead to devastating and far-reaching effects on the economy, food security, and health outcomes. This has the potential to overwhelm routine community capabilities of producing sufficient food and treating chronic disease - qualifying this environmental injustice as a public health issue. Taking a preventative approach to the decline in bee populations would allow for both bee colonies and a larger sector of the American population to benefit from policy interventions and primary prevention programs backed by evidence-based science. Thus, the decline in bee populations should be approached as a public health issue to ensure agriculture profitability and continued supply of disease preventive foods to Americans.

Paper For Above Instructions

Bees play a crucial role in the ecosystem, particularly in pollinating plants crucial to human diets. Their decline is alarming and poses significant threats to food security and public health. To fully grasp the impact of bee population decline, we need to explore the intricate relationship between food environments, chronic disease rates, and public health.

A food environment refers to the availability and accessibility of food within a community. Factors such as local policy, cultural norms, and economic conditions shape the food environment, influencing food choices and nutritional intake. With the current food environments in the U.S. being largely obesogenic, characterized by high calorie, low nutrient foods, the public health implications are severe. Chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions are on the rise, linking directly to poor dietary habits formed within these unhealthy environments (Lake, 2018).

The role of bees in ensuring a diverse supply of fruits and vegetables cannot be understated. Their decline can lead to reduced availability of these items, as shown in studies illustrating the crucial nature of pollination in the production of various crops (Grossman & Urbina, n.d.). This not only threatens food security but also has broader implications for public health, as decreased access to fruits and vegetables is known to contribute to chronic diseases (Richard, Walker, & Alexandre, 2018).

By addressing the decline in bee populations as a public health issue, we can foster broader support for research and intervention efforts. This approach encourages funding for initiatives that promote increased availability of diverse, healthy foods. Public health framing can help attract attention and resources to tackle rising chronic disease rates linked to unhealthy food environments fostered by agricultural practices that do not prioritize biodiversity.

A pivotal factor in the decline of bee populations is the modern agricultural focus on monoculture—growing vast fields of a single crop type without allowing for biodiversity. This shift towards intensive farming has led to the diminishment of habitats necessary for bee survival. Moreover, reliance on herbicides and pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, is particularly harmful to pollinators (USDA, 2020). To combat this, advocacy for comprehensive policy changes—including banning harmful chemicals and incentivizing biodiversity-friendly practices—will be essential.

Moreover, a bi-directional approach is necessary. By promoting dietary recommendations that advocate for plant-based foods—including fruits, vegetables, and nuts—we can foster an environment that not only helps humans thrive but also supports pollinator health. These dietary changes are essential to creating sustainable food environments that contribute to human health, while also helping bee populations recover (Siegel, 2016).

Investment in educational programs for beekeepers and dietitians will be integral. Understanding the interconnectedness of diets, agriculture, and bee health is key to fostering more resilient food systems (General Food Environment Resources, n.d.). Collaborative efforts between policymakers, scientists, and health professionals can ensure that legislative frameworks support environmental and health-oriented goals.

In summary, approaching the decline in bee populations through the lens of public health creates pathways for interventions that stave off the looming threats of food insecurity and chronic disease. The evidence underscores a significant need for legislative changes promoting sustainable agricultural practices while enhancing access to nutrient-rich foods. By addressing these interconnections, we can cultivate a future where both bee populations and public health flourish.

References

• General Food Environment Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2020, from [Source URL]
• Grossman, E., & Urbina, I. (n.d.). Declining Bee Populations Pose a Threat to Global Agriculture. Retrieved August 19, 2020, from [Source URL]
• Lake, A. A. (2018). Neighbourhood food environments: food choice, foodscapes and planning for health. The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 77(3), 239–246.
• Richard, P., Walker, R., & Alexandre, P. (2018). The burden of out-of-pocket costs and medical debt faced by households with chronic health conditions in the United States. PloS one, 13(6), e0198496.
• USDA. (2020). [Title of USDA report]. [source URL]
• Siegel, M. (2016). [Title of Study]. [source URL]
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