Incidence of the use of genetically modified organisms on quality of the bee products on apis mellifera distribution

L. M. LEÓN GALLÓN; P.MELEGATTI; N.PEREYRA; M.MORESSI; J. M. MARIOLI; F. DERAMO

Río Cuarto

Workshop; - III WORKSHOP GMOsensor; 2015

UNRC

Honey is one of the most important agricultural products for export in Argentina. It is the third honey producer of world, following China and the United States of America. Honey produced in Argentina represents 70% of the honey produced in South America, 25% of the honey produced in the American continent and 6% of the world?s honey production. Nearly, 3.5 million bee hives and 50,000 beekeepers are related with this production, being this quantity the highest in the southern hemisphere. The bee hives are mainly located in central Argentina, in the ?Pampa Húmeda? region, which is also used for agriculture and cattle production. It is known that apiculture and agriculture are considered complementary activities given that both benefits from each other. For example, pollen distribution is better if bees are present (1). The honey production of each bee hive in this region used to be around 60 kg. However, the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (OGMs) resistant to herbicides, and the excessive use of these, has reduced biodiversity and turned apiculture and agriculture incompatible. The changes in apicultural practices begun in the late 1990?s when glyphosate resistant soy species were introduced into Argentina, resulting in the uncontrolled expansion of the soybean planting. The technological package of OGM planting includes direct sowing and massive use of herbicides. As a consequence of loss of biodiversity, soil and water degradation, as well as an increase of pesticide use, cattle production and apiculture were moved to marginal production areas.Bees during foraging are in contact with almost all sectors of the environment: soil, vegetation, air and water. Every day, during the time of honey production, between 10,000 and 25,000 bees per hive perform an average of 10 trips covering an area of approximately 7 km2, to collect nectar, pollen and propolis. Therefore, chemicals, microorganisms and particles suspended in the air or on the plants they visit, can be retained in the hair covering his body and transferred to the hive [2]. Once therein, the contact of bees with different bee products (honey, wax, pollen and propolis) can cause contamination.The presence of pesticides in the hives, in high enough quantities, not only affects the quality of bee products but could also lead to weaken the hive and the bees tend to leave, causing the syndrome known as "colony collapse disorder? (CCD) ?.Therefore, honeybees and their products may well fulfill the role of ?environmental indicators? in order to contribute to assessments and monitoring of environmental quality and of such products.References [1] R. Vásquez, H. Ballesteros, Y.Ortegón, U. Castro, Revista de Ciencia Y Tecnologia Agropecuaria, 7(1), (2006) 50?53. [2] Becker, A.; ?Las abejas centinelas del entorno ambiental?. L?Abeille de France. Junio 1999. AcknowledgmentThe authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCYT) and Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica (UNRC)