How we feed bees by eating buckwheat

Buckwheat is a grain with an extraordinary capacity to support bee populations. Its blossoms provide bees with abundant nectar and pollen. In response, pollinators are drawn to these blossoms, attracted by the promise of nourishment and the allure of nature’s sweet offerings. Scientific research has found that bees often hang out around areas with buckwheat fields(1). Indeed, buckwheat is a real bee’s delight.

The nectar-rich blooms of buckwheat attract bees, offering them a sense of comfort by providing essential carbohydrates to fuel their tireless journeys. As bees move from one flower to another, gathering nectar to support their colonies, they unintentionally transfer pollen grains, aiding in the pollination process. In this mutually beneficial interaction, buckwheat and bees engage in a partnership, each benefiting from the other’s presence.

Beyond providing basic sustenance, buckwheat fulfills a vital role in maintaining the health and vitality of bee populations. Its prolonged blooming period, lasting up to 10 weeks, guarantees a consistent food supply for pollinators throughout the growing season. This reliable source of nutrition proves especially crucial during times of scarcity when alternative floral resources are limited.

In fields located in central New York State, honey bees made up at least 95% of the insect visitors to buckwheat flowers. Each buckwheat flower was visited by honey bees anywhere from zero to over forty times.(3) Based on our calculations, we estimated that one 80g portion of buckwheat can provide enough nutrition to sustain one bee, which led to our claim "1 for you, 1 for a bee." By furnishing a reliable food source, buckwheat supports and strengthens bee populations, enhancing their resilience.

Not to miss another buckwheat&bees miracle: buckwheat honey. It stands out as the darkest honey and exhibits the strongest antibacterial and antioxidant activity(4). It is acknowledged as a nutritionally valuable product. The carbohydrates present in buckwheat honey contribute to human health by promoting well-being. Thanks to these benefits, buckwheat honey is respected as a functional food(2,5). Another reason to add buckwheat into you diet.

In an era marked by the decline of bee populations (6) and the loss of pollinator habitats (7), buckwheat can have an important mission. With escalating global concerns over pollinator health, the cultivation of bee-friendly crops like buckwheat gives us hope for the future. By integrating buckwheat into agricultural landscapes, farmers have the opportunity to establish thriving sanctuaries for pollinators, fostering biodiversity and bolstering ecosystem resilience.

By embracing buckwheat as a bee-friendly crop, we advocate for the welfare of pollinators and encourage biodiversity, paving the way for a more sustainable future for generations to come. We create the demand for buckwheat cultivation and enhance our own health by eating it. So let’s take part together in Grecha’s Buckwheat Revolution!

References

1. McCallum, R. S., McLean, N. L., & Cutler, G. C. (2020). The impact of planting buckwheat strips along lowbush blueberry fields on beneficial insects. Canadian Journal of Plant Science

2. Jiang, L., Xie, M., Chen, G., Qiao, J., Zhang, H., & Zeng, X. (2020). Phenolics and carbohydrates in buckwheat honey regulate the human intestinal microbiota. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2020, Article ID 6432942, 11 pages. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/6432942

3. Bjorkman, T. (1995). Role of honey-bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae) in the pollination of buckwheat in eastern North America. Journal of Economic Entomology, 88(6), 1739-1745. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/88.6.1739

4. Dżugan, M., Grabek-Lejko, D., Swacha, S., Tomczyk, M., Bednarska, S., & Kapusta, I. (2020). Physicochemical quality parameters, antibacterial properties and cellular antioxidant activity of Polish buckwheat honey. Food Bioscience, 34, 100538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2020.100538

5. Nešović, M., Gašić, U., Tosti, T., Horvacki, N., Šikoparija, B., Nedić, N., Blagojević, S., Ignjatović, L., & Tešić, Ž. (2020). Polyphenol profile of buckwheat honey, nectar, and pollen. Royal Society Open Science, 7(12). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.201576

6. Cappa, V., Cerioli, M. P., Scaburri, A., Tironi, M., Farioli, M., Nassuato, C., & Bellini, S. (2021). Analysis of bee population decline in Lombardy during the period 2014–2016 and identification of high-risk areas. Pathogens, 10(8), 1004. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10081004

7. Bacandritsos, N., Granato, A., Budge, G., Papanastasiou, I., Roinioti, E., Caldon, M., Falcaro, C., Gallina, A., & Mutinelli, F. (2010). Sudden deaths and colony population decline in Greek honey bee colonies. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 105(3), 335-340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2010.08.004