This refers to the attritional decrease in the population of bees. The term has been used by many beekeepers who are crying foe for the adverse effects of a certain fertilizer in the bees’ population. The fertilizer in the center of controversy is a corn fertilizer that is produced by Bayer- a German manufacturer (Rucker, Burgett, & Thurman, 12). In the view of these bee-keepers, the value of bees in the pollination of corns cannot be underestimated. This is because; bees and other flying insects contribute towards cross pollination. Their take is that, should the current decline in bee population continue, then the country is faced by potential decrease in food production due to poor harvest that are caused by decreased pollination (Rucker, Burgett, & Thurman, 16).
On the other hand, Buyer and other pesticide manufacturers are of the view that there is no connectivity between their products and the Colony Collapse Disorder. They have challenged the bee-keepers to prove their case. There is currently a study that is scheduled to come to its finds in the year 2018 run by the EPA the body responsible for testing of pesticides before commissioning them (Rucker, Burgett, & Thurman, 8). The body commissioned the subject fertilizer in 2003. This issue has created a stand-still between the bee-keepers and the agency with Bayer being at the center of controversy.
Big Data Initiative
Big data initiative is an initiative by the white house to invest in the information technology more that it has done earlier so as to fasten the rate of technological and related growth (Rucker, Burgett, & Thurman, 19). One of the targeted areas by this initiative is environmental research. This initiative then comes in handy in assisting in solving the Colony Collapse Disorder. The initiative can be of help to ensure that the study is completed before the 2018 timeline given by EPA.
Works cited
Rucker, Randal, Burgett, Michael, & Thurman, Walter. Colony Collapse Disorder: The
Economic Consequences of Bee Disease. Montana: Montana State University (2012)
