In June 2026, the U.S. reported that 39.9% of honey bee colonies had died during the 2025/2026 season. Extreme heat, pesticides, habitat loss and parasites are putting pollinators under growing pressure worldwide. In Russia, beekeepers have reportedly lost around 200,000 colonies annually over the past seven years, while the total number of colonies has fallen from about 10 million in the 2000s to fewer than 4 million today.
At the same time, the global beekeeping market is estimated at around $10.51 billion, driven by honey sales, pollination services and the trade in live bees. But the industry is becoming increasingly industrialized: beekeepers split surviving colonies, purchase new queens and rent out hives to farmers. In the U.S., agricultural businesses pay more than $400 million a year for pollination services. This creates a paradox: the number of hives remains relatively stable, while the health and resilience of bee populations deteriorate.
Scientists advocate biological pest control, flower-rich buffer zones, advance warnings before pesticide treatments and spraying at night. New technologies are also emerging, including AI-powered robotic hives designed to monitor disease and weather conditions. Yet experts stress that protecting pollinators will require more than technology: coordinated action by farmers and beekeepers — and even simple measures such as providing water during extreme heat — can also make a difference.
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