Bees have thrived on this planet for over 50 million years, yet in the last 7 years they have been d

Bees have thrived on this planet for over 50 million years, yet in the last 7 years both native and managed bee colonies have been dying off en masse. Monarch butterflies are similarly disappearing. So what happened 7 years ago? There are several factors, such as the use of new systemic pesticides, but the over-arching reason, we believe, is the loss of natural habitat and healthy bee forage that keeps bees' immune systems strong.

In 2007, the US government, in an effort to "combat global warming" mandated the use of biofuels for cars. The price of corn skyrocketed, and, in just 7 years, over 15 million acres of natural bee habitat were lost, mostly to genetically modified corn. Bees are presently under tremendous stress, with a vastly inferior diet. It is no surprise that their immune systems are compromised. This is an ecological disaster on an unprecedented scale. It is also an agricultural disaster, as bees are necessary for at least 1 in 3 bites of food we eat.

With the revolving door between Monsanto, agribusiness and all three branches of our federal government, there is little chance that the biofuel policy will be reversed or that neonicotinoids will be banned any time soon.

The American Bee Project's mission is to increase the number of acres of raw, natural bee habitat available to commercial bee keepers for rebuilding the health of bee colonies. We do this by educating owners of suitable raw land of the multiple tax, insurance and other benefits that are available under existing law of leasing land to legitimate commercial beekeepers. We partner owners of raw land with legitimate, successful commercial bee keepers who have need of such land. This is a simple, elegant solution to an enormous problem.