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"For the want of a nail, the shoe was lost. For want on the shoe, the horse was lost. For want of the horse, the rider was lost. For want of the rider, the battle was lost. So goes this ancient doggerel. For want of a bee, a flower wasn't pollinated. For want of a fertile flower, an apple didn't form. For want of that apple, those dependent on it starved. And that apple had a large number of dependents. Somewhat of a stretch but you get my point.
Human beings evolved to be primarily plant (leaf and fruit) eaters. We have more incisors for cutting plant tissue and molars for grinding it to pulp than canines used for tearing flesh from bone. Our digestive system is structured to utilize the much easier to digest plant tissue than animal flesh. (I am not aware of any food plants that cause colorectal cancer as charred meat is suspected of causing.) And our ancestors discovered that plant matter was far easier to gather and prepare than animal flesh and provided a more varied and healthier diet.
Honeybees are dying in unprecedented numbers all over the world and all life dependent on their labor is suffering accordingly. Without adequate numbers of pollinators, there will be fewer fruits and vegetables, fiber and vegetable oils. Diminished supplies of these will mean higher prices for them, thus decreasing the number of people who will be able to afford these thus increasing the number of our fellow humans who will become mal nourished.
Honeybees are dying in unprecedented numbers all over the world because of the overuse of pesticides and herbicides that are both unnecessary (ask any organic farmer) and dangerous; after all they are poisons, aren't they? Their use has proliferated in an effort to increase crop yields and hyperbole aside that increased yields mean less starvation in our world, increased yields primarily mean greater profits for Big Ag and the major producers of these chemicals that are so severely damaging to the web of live.
The link below provides a more comprehensive list of plants dependent on insect pollination and their pollinators.
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