Industrial agriculture, in its pursuit of productivity, has created food deserts for pollinators—large areas where they struggle to find adequate nutrition. Almond orchards are a typical example: Pollinators have only one food source within range, and only during a limited time of year.

Food businesses are starting to feel the pinch of vanishing pollinators. The solution so far has been to force pollination by importing bees from across the country. While this practice may temporarily alleviate the problem, it also puts colonies under a tremendous amount of stress during transport, adding to the other threats pollinators face.

New York Bee Sanctuary aims to educate farmers and the food industry in sustainable pollination methods using native plants in New York State, and later across the country. This will help to maintain an environment where pollinators can thrive, ensuring food security and business sustainability.