If we think the global food supply is in trouble now, imagine what the world would be like if bees ceased to exist. Without bees to pollinate flowers and crops - the honey bee pollinates more than 90 commercial crops grown in the U.S. - over half of the world's population would starve to death. It's no wonder beekeepers in Britain were fed up last week and finally lobbied Parliament to take introduce urgent research programs that would hopefully shed some light on the cause of diseases that are plaguing the bee population.

These diseases have led to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), where worker bees from a colony or hive disappear and causes the entire colony to die. The problem was first noticed in the U.S. in 2006 and 2007 and has yet to spread to Britain, but the beekeepers there want to be prepared if and when it does. If nothing is done, the British Beekeepers Association has estimated the country's entire bee population could be completely wiped out by 2018.

Though the British government has announced a long-term strategy to protect the bee population in the country, the BBKA says funding for major research is necessary if a crisis is to be averted, which finally led to the lobby last week.

Tim Lovett, the BBKA President, said: "We will keep our bees only if the Government will help us to keep them healthy. Does the Government want the nation to go without honey on their toast, not have home-grown strawberries to go with cream, and even put their own crusade for the public to eat five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables at risk? Food production is now an important issue and bees are central to it."

He added: "We note that the US government immediately invested $80m into research on Colony Collapse Disorder, which has devastated their bee colonies, affecting pollination of the apple orchards, the almond and orange crops. CCD has not yet crossed the Channel from Europe, but we are urging the Government that it needs to be prepared should this happen. The Government spends just £200,000 out of a budget of £1.5 million for bee health on research. Immediate action needs to be taken to avoid this economic and ecological disaster in the making."

» The Independent