Government to solve problem

The National Academies of Science of the US warns of "looming pollination crisis in North America" (Science). Honeybees pollinate many crops, and now the mite Varroa destructor is decimating their colonies.The NAS calls for more research on Varroa, for increasing the use of non-honeybee pollinators, and for growing wildflowers in golf-course roughs to boost wild pollinator populations. It recommends more action by the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the US Geological Survey, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Science Foundation, the Natural Resources Conservation Services, and other government agencies. If you have a problem the National Academies of Science will call the government to solve it for you.

The Science news item mentions that "mites have caused the price of bee rental for almond growers to go from about $30 to as much as $150 per hive." This means that creating more bee colonies, improving protection from mites and finding bee substitutes has become more profitable. Profit-seeking individuals, and not government, would be happy to avert the "looming crisis." And there is no need to call them.