Colony collapse disorder and chronic losses in managed honeybee colonies raise welfare concerns alongside critical implications for food production.
While colony welfare is often discussed in terms of colony survival, individual bee welfare also deserves consideration. Bees likely experience negative states from Varroa mite infestation, pesticide exposure, and nutritional stress. Welfare-conscious beekeeping prioritizes natural forage, chemical-free mite management, and colony health monitoring over maximum honey extraction.