Though colony collapse disorder has generated a great deal of concern, the phenomenon has had “very small effects” on commercial pollinators, according to an author of a new study on the economic impacts of colony collapse disorder, or CCD, among commercial honeybees.
The research found “remarkably little to suggest dramatic and widespread economic effects from CCD,” according to the report.
“When we started this project, we expected to find huge effects, but we found very small ones,” said Randy Rucker, a professor in Montana State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics. “The only effects we found on consumers, for example, is that they probably pay about 10 cents more for a $7, 1-pound can of almonds at the grocery store.”
“Almond pollination fees did go up substantially, but they went up before CCD hit,” Rucker said. “You can’t attribute those increases to colony collapse disorder.”
Overall, few of the changes in commercial pollinator markets can be linked directly to CCD or other recent pollinator health concerns, he said.
Read full, original article: Study: CCD effects on commercial bees are ‘very small’
