if the honey industry was really “helping the bee population”, then there wouldn’t be a problem with the bee population

the western honey bee directly competes with indigenous pollinator species for the local pollen, and keeps a big portion of the pollen to take it back to their hive for honey- so less pollination actually happening than if it was just native species going about the way they would

the bee populations that are in decline are NATIVE BEES, not the honey bees that are being introduced and raised in high numbers! in the last 50 years, the honey bee population has INCREASED by 45%, and the native bee populations have DECLINED to a worrying point

another thing worth noting is that bees have a brain and nervous system, and demonstrate EMOTIONS as well! they spend their whole lives producing honey and having it taken, in place for them to eat is SUGAR WATER that doesn’t contain the nutrients that they need to be healthy

so when you buy money (giving money to the industry, keeping honey in demand), that’s directly contributing to the decline of native pollinator species and a very unethical practice altogether

besides, when we make honey directly from flowers (like dandelion and fireweed) without the bees, it tastes better anyway