Every May 20th, World Bee Day is celebrated, a day promoted to highlight the essential role these insects play in the conservation of ecosystems and in food production. The date also seeks to warn about the threats faced by pollinator populations in different regions of the planet.
The commemoration was established by the United Nations in honor of the birth of Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern beekeeping in Slovenia. Since then, the initiative has become an international platform to promote more sustainable agricultural practices and strengthen the protection of wild and domestic bees.
Additionally, specialists emphasize that the decline of these insects represents a large-scale environmental risk. The expansion of monoculture, the intensive use of pesticides, the loss of habitats, and climate change are among the main threats to their survival.
Honey and a complex biological composition
Researchers from the University of Chile highlighted that bees not only have a strategic ecological value but also an enormous scientific importance linked to the natural properties of honey.
Academic Edwar Fuentes Pérez explained that this food arises from the nectar collected by bees, which is enriched through metabolic processes within the hive. As a result, honey incorporates plant compounds and substances generated by the insects themselves.
Among its components are fructose, glucose, amino acids, minerals, proteins, polyphenols, and natural enzymes. It also contains antimicrobial peptides and beneficial microorganisms that contribute to its biological properties.
The most recent research also analyzes the antibacterial and regenerative capacity of honey. Chilean scientists detected that the interaction between enzymes, copper, and polyphenols could enhance its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
The irreplaceable ecological role of bees
Beyond honey production, bees play a decisive role in environmental balance. During nectar collection, they transfer pollen between flowers, allowing the reproduction of thousands of plant species.
Thanks to this process, they directly contribute to the conservation of forests, grasslands, and natural ecosystems. They also promote the production of fruits, vegetables, and seeds essential for human and animal nutrition.
Specialists point out that nearly 75% of crops intended for consumption depend, at least partially, on pollination. Therefore, the decline in bee populations could severely impact biodiversity and global food security.
In Chile, for example, there are more than 460 registered native bee species. Many of them are solitary, do not produce honey, and maintain exclusive relationships with the country’s native plants.
Why it is so important to protect them
The protection of bees has become an environmental priority due to the accelerated deterioration of their natural habitats. The reduction of available flowers, chemical pollution, and urban expansion disrupt the ecological cycles that allow their survival.
In response to this scenario, researchers and environmental organizations promote agroecological practices, biological corridors, and urban gardens with native plants that provide nectar throughout the year.
Furthermore, the conservation of bees also benefits sustainable agricultural production and strengthens regional economies linked to beekeeping. In Chile, honeys such as those from ulmo, quillay, tiaca, and hazel have unique characteristics and growing international recognition.
As World Bee Day gains global relevance, the scientific community insists that protecting these pollinators means safeguarding biodiversity, food production, and ecosystem stability for future generations.
