Can a monoculture system sustain us into the future and our children's future? The short answer is no.
The topic is complex, as it effects so many and their livelihoods and I don't have enough space to launch into it fully.
It would be easy for us to point the finger as we do and blame the agricultural, horticultural and apicultural industries for the state our country is in. Without forgetting all the urban polluters. Unfortunately, this gets us nowhere fast.
Where do I start?
Manuka honey is an amazing unique New Zealand product that is sought after by many different countries around the world. Yet are these consumers aware of the exploitation of the bees to produce it?
This is the example of monoculture within apiculture, the chasing of liquid gold for income and the dollars it has created.
There is a saying that goes 'the land of milk and honey': good ol' New Zealand. That little place tucked away in the South Pacific. That 'clean, green country'. Oh dear, there's that Tui advert again.
Manuka is the monoculture of beekeeping.
The dilemma I have in all this is not necessarily the manuka honey. It's the way we have idolised it, allowing it to grow out of control. Meanwhile, in the background, the other industries are continually destroying the natural forage our pollinators and bees need to survive in this world and into our futures.
More and more our lands are being utilised for dairy cows and the feed required (for example, maize). It seems everywhere you look you see paddocks of maize, pine trees, vineyards or unproductive grass lands.
What is a credible solution?
I believe it is time for the ag, hort and apiculture industries to work together more co-operatively. Together we can build a bright sustainable future, by creating succinct transitional pathways into sustainable practices on all levels.
Yes, it's going to be a difficult challenging road ahead. However don't we owe it to our beautiful country and, more importantly, those who reside here?
What could each industry do?
Agriculture: reduce stock numbers and downsize farm sizes. Plant riparian zones around all waterways. (The true riparian zone of 25-30m each side of waterways).
Horticulture: grow and develop all the plants needed for these waterway zones. Educate people how to grow nutrient-dense food without the use of chemicals.
Apiculture: reduce the numbers of hives to match the amount of available natural forage.
Could our central and local governments fund this?
Hell yes, through a subsidy and incentive-based programme to all those willing to make a change.
Aaron Tasker is an apiculture tutor and mentor. He currently delivers a Level 3 apiculture programme for a private training establishment in Whanganui.
