What Happens to Our Food If Bees Disappear? | Dr. Cahit Ozturk

Send us Fan MailWhat would happen to our food supply if honeybees disappeared?In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, Dr. Joe Roselle speaks with Arizona State University Bee Lab researcher Dr. Cahit Ozturk about the essential role honeybees and other pollinators play in food production, biodiversity, and healthy ecosystems.Dr. Ozturk explains what declining bee populations could mean for agriculture, how pesticides and monoculture farming affect bee health, and why honeybees are especially valuable pollinators. He also shares insights from his research into bee genetics, hygienic behavior, fungicide exposure, and Varroa mites.Thinking about starting a backyard beehive? This conversation also covers practical beekeeping basics, including providing water, protecting hives from Arizona’s extreme heat, and identifying mite problems before they spread.IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:🐝 Why honeybees are critical to our food supply🌱 How pollination affects crop quality and biodiversity🚜 Why monoculture farming can harm bee nutrition🧪 How pesticides and fungicides affect bee health🍯 What gives honey its unique regional flavor🔬 What researchers are discovering about bee genetics and behavior🏡 What you need to begin backyard beekeeping☀️ How Arizona beekeepers manage extreme heat and limited water⚠️ How to recognize and manage Varroa mitesABOUT DR. CAHIT OZTURKDr. Cahit Ozturk is a research technologist and associate researcher at Arizona State University with more than three decades of experience in honeybee research, education, breeding, and colony management.He began working with honeybees in 1989 and earned his master’s degree studying royal jelly production. He later received his Ph.D. in bee genetics and breeding from Cukurova University in Turkey.Before joining the ASU Bee Lab in 2014, Dr. Ozturk worked as a lecturer and researcher and served as the head of a government beekeeping research department in Turkey. His areas of expertise include honeybee breeding and management, queen bee rearing, bee genetics, hygienic behavior, royal jelly production, instrumental insemination, and honeybee learning and behavior.He currently contributes to honeybee research projects and teaches basic through advanced beekeeping courses at the ASU Bee Lab.CHAPTERS00:00 – Meet Dr. Cahit Ozturk01:26 – Why bees matter to our food supply02:35 – What happens if bee colonies collapse?04:19 – Bumblebees, mason bees, butterflies, and other pollinators07:18 – How chemicals and monoculture farming affect bees11:00 – The connection between bees and biodiversity12:58 – How pollination affects food quality and quantity14:51 – What gives honey its regional flavor?17:52 – Honey and human health21:23 – Current research at the ASU Bee Lab23:45 – Protecting bees from pesticides and fungicides26:34 – How to begin backyard beekeeping28:35 – Managing water and extreme heat in Arizona30:05 – Detecting and treating Varroa mites34:14 – Surprising facts about honeybees36:38 – Final advice for future beekeepersIf you care about sustainable agriculture, food security, biodiversity, gardening, or beekeeping, this conversation is for you.Subscribe to Harvesting Wisdom for more conversations with the researchers, farmers, educators, and innovators working to create healthier communities and more resilient food systems.