Pollinators are a priority for food and agriculture, which is why the University of Tennessee is working to become Bee Campus USA.
UT is making their campus “bee friendly” by establishing grounds so pollinators could make the campus landscape their home. In recent years, Tennessee beekeepers have reported up to 70 percent losses in some hives.
“We’re not only beautifying the campus but we’re making it functional as well,” said Jennifer Tsuruda, an entomologist, plant pathologist, and bee specialist with UT.
The value of insect pollinated crops is estimated at $15 billion dollars. It has been estimated that one of every three bites of food we take have been impacted by animal pollinations.