In this episode of the Farm to Food podcast, we explore the essential role bees and pollinators play in agriculture across Quebec and why their future matters to farmers, food production, and biodiversity.

From honeybees working vast crop fields to native pollinators thriving in wild spaces, we look at how pollination supports everything from berries and apples to vegetables and seed production. We also examine the growing pressures facing bee populations, including climate change, habitat loss, parasites, disease, and pesticide exposure.

The episode dives into the ongoing debate around agricultural pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, and how farmers are balancing crop protection with pollinator health. 

We also explore the unique challenges of beekeeping in rural Quebec: harsh winters, varroa mites, unpredictable weather, declining forage diversity, and the economics of maintaining healthy hives in a changing agricultural landscape.

Jackie Rourke visited with our own Farmer Phil Quinn at his farm in L’Île-Perrot , where they talked about his passion for bees and how he got started

Sarah Rennie speaks with: 

- Greg Edwards, who runs an organic blueberry farm on Covey Hill in Havelock QC, about honeybees and native bees and the challenges bee keeping;

- Amélie Morin, a University of Laval researcher on bee nutrition and riparian strips.

- Sascha MacIntosh-Hobson, an agronomist, on the regulations around pesticides. 

- Holly Dressel, author, writer/researcher for David Suzuki. Holly spoke about the impact that pesticides are having on bee populations, and how farmers continue to use pesticides.

Callan Forrester speaks with Brandon Borland, a Chateauguay Valley Regional High School teacher who is working with students on a project to teach students about raising bees.

Thank you for listening to this episode of the Farm to Food podcast.

We’d like to thank our sponsors for helping bring this initiative to life: Desjardins, the Livestock Breeders’ Association and Quinn Farm in Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot for their promotional support.

We also wish to thank the Community Media Strategic Support Fund and the Government of Canada for their financial support for this project, as well as the Bourses d’initiatives en entrepreneuriat collectif for their contribution toward equipping the podcast studio.

This program is made possible thanks to the dedicated work of the volunteer directors on the board of Châteauguay Valley Community Information Services (CVCIS), a non-profit social enterprise with charitable status. We would love your support to help keep this podcast going.

Donations can be made at farmtofood.ca, and we can issue tax receipts for donations over $25.

Farm to Food Podcast Credits:

Hugh Maynard – Host

Jackie Rourke – Producer

Sarah Rennie – News Editor

Callan Forrester – Reporter

Stacey Pennington – Audio Production

Dianna Chycki, sales & marketing

…and of course, Farmer Phil — who’s farm-tastic!