#Buzz: Exploring public interest in pollinators, bees, and honey using online media data

Abstract

Pollinators play an important role in agriculture, food security, and ecosystems. They are facing serious population declines in the US as well as around the world, leading to concerns regarding natural fertilization, reduced crop yields, and economic threats to farmers and/or related agricultural businesses. Governments and non-governmental organizations have introduced policies and programs to conserve pollinators and increase public awareness of pollinator decline. This study focuses on online and social media content about pollinators as a proxy for public interest, measured by volume and sentiment of media. Additionally, we evaluate potential links between public interest and the reaction of markets of pollinator-derived products, namely honey. Volume and sentiment of online media surrounding pollinators was quantified for the years 2017 – 2021. Search results show mentions mostly driven by pleasant mentions of bees, honey, honeybee costumes, and butterfly migration rather than topics related to the pollination-related threats, causes, polices, and/or programs. Wholesale and retail prices of honey have been less variable than mentions over time, suggesting no apparent relationship between volume of online media activities surrounding pollinators (including bees) and honey prices. The low volume of mentions about threats towards pollinators may suggest a low level of public awareness of the topic and yield concerns for the effectiveness of polices for protecting pollinators and/or concern for economics of beekeepers, even with the active legislations of the US federal and states government for promoting pollinators health.