Comprehension: Greek Bees Holding Their Own...For the Moment

Bee colonies in Greece are still going strong while others elsewhere in Europe are dropping steeply, reportedly due to GM crops and pesticides. It's a boon for society here where honey plays a key role.


Watch the video and answer the questions below. Decide if the statements are True or False.

1. Royal jelly is one of the products that is made uniquely in Greece.
a. True
b. False

2. Greece voted ‘for’ the two-year ban put forward by the European  
    Commission on certain pesticides.
a. True
b. False

3. Spain produces more honey than Greece.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

Transcript and Answers

Every day Nikos Reppas tends his beehives on the hills of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. Since ancient times, honey has played a crucial role in Greek society and Nikos, whose family has been in the honey business for more than two centuries, says Greek expertise is recognised the world over. 

"There is tremendous interest for Greek honey abroad. All the countries seek Greek honey because it’s renowned. There are also products, such as royal jelly, that can't be found anywhere else because no other country has the right conditions or flowers." 

Nikos is lucky. In other areas of the world, honey bee populations are plummeting. Scientific reports point to the use of certain pesticides or genetically-modified organisms. That's no problem in Greece where GMOs are banned. 

"Colony Collapse Disorder is a problem in the United States and some European countries like Germany and Spain. We don't have this problem in Greece yet. This may be because of the GMO's that are growing in other countries and we don't." 

But Greek farmers do use certain pesticides that have been identified as potentially harmful to bees. The European Commission is trying to introduce a two-year ban on these chemicals but Greece was among the nine countries that voted against the motion in March. The EU will put it to another vote in May and environmental groups say it's time to act. 

"Not banning the pesticides does not help agriculture. It does not help biodiversity; it does not help humans and insects. No one benefits from bees dying. On the contrary, everyone has an interest and benefit from bees being healthy to pollinate so that food is produced and balance is maintained in the ecosystem." 

If bees take the same downward spiral here as elsewhere in Europe, it would be devastating for the industry. Producing 12,000 tonnes a year Greece is the second biggest producer of honey in Europe after Spain. It's an industry that's very much part of Greek identity. 

"My father is 77 years old going on 78 and still works professionally. A beekeeper is for life. You are born and die as a beekeeper." 

Many of the 20,000 registered beekeepers in Greece have so far managed to keep disease at bay hoping that there is still a long life ahead for their very ancient tradition. 

Answers:

1. a

2. b

3. a

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