As a former beekeeper, I'd like to add that almonds are very much more detrimental to honeybees and pollinators than for example oats (as a wind-pollinated grass). Honeybees eat only almond pollen for weeks because of commercial monocropping, leading to poor nutrition and susceptibility to disease. Plus, commercial beekeepers move hives around the country to meet pollination needs (again due to monocropping), which is very hard on honeybee populations. When you factor in the pesticides and herbicides that commercial crops are treated with, almonds are very bad for our pollinators. I think this aspect of sustainability should be taken into consideration when comparing plant-based milk.
April 19, 2022 at 11:29am
As a former beekeeper, I'd like to add that almonds are very much more detrimental to honeybees and pollinators than for example oats (as a wind-pollinated grass). Honeybees eat only almond pollen for weeks because of commercial monocropping, leading to poor nutrition and susceptibility to disease. Plus, commercial beekeepers move hives around the country to meet pollination needs (again due to monocropping), which is very hard on honeybee populations. When you factor in the pesticides and herbicides that commercial crops are treated with, almonds are very bad for our pollinators. I think this aspect of sustainability should be taken into consideration when comparing plant-based milk.