View source for Brief:Saving the Bumblebee Starts With Changing Our Farming Practices

As the weather warms, bumblebees emerge from hibernation to forage on early-blooming plants. Queen bumblebees begin the cycle by laying eggs, and their colonies grow until mid-summer. By fall, the next generation of queens, or “gynes,” mate and prepare for hibernation, while the rest of the colony dies off. Bumblebees rely on diverse plants for food throughout their life cycle. However, climate change, habitat destruction, pesticides, and diseases from managed honeybees have caused a severe decline in bumblebee populations.

At La Ferme de l’Aube, a small farm in Québec, researchers have observed how veganic farming practices—like low-till farming, avoiding chemicals, and planting diverse flowering plants—help bumblebees thrive. From 2018 to 2024, bumblebee populations on the farm increased by 340 percent. The number of species grew from five to nine, including the vulnerable yellow-banded bumblebee. This increase is linked to the farm’s efforts to provide a wide variety of flowering plants throughout the growing season, helping bumblebees find food even when wild plants aren’t available.

The farm’s success shows that veganic farming can support bumblebee populations and other wildlife. By protecting and promoting biodiversity, such farming practices may play a key role in reversing the decline of bumblebees and ensuring their survival in the face of human-caused threats. The positive results at La Ferme de l’Aube highlight the importance of sustainable farming for the future of these vital pollinators.
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