Watch The Last Beekeeper

The Last Beekeeper is a 2009 documentary film directed by Jeremy Simmons. The film explores the decline in the bee population in the United States and how it affects the lives of beekeepers. It features the stories of three different beekeepers and their struggles to keep their businesses afloat amidst this crisis. The documentary starts by explaining the important role bees play in pollinating crops and how their decline is leading to a potential food crisis. The film then follows the story of David Hackenberg, a beekeeper from Pennsylvania who is the first to discover the phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in which bees abandon their hives and die off. He explains the difficulties he faces in keeping his business running as he must constantly replenish his bee population to make up for the ones lost to CCD.

The film then introduces two other beekeepers, Dave Mendes from California and Bret Adee from South Dakota, who face similar challenges with CCD and the difficulty in making a profit from beekeeping. Mendes explains how he had to sell his bees and become a farmer to make a living, while Adee turns to renting out his bees for pollination services as it becomes increasingly difficult to make a profit from just selling honey.

Throughout the film, there are interviews with scientists and experts on the topic of CCD, including Dennis van Engelsdorp, a researcher at the University of Maryland who explains how the decline in bees is linked to the use of pesticides and the loss of habitat due to urbanization. However, the film also shows the different opinions on the subject, with some suggesting that CCD may not be the only cause of the decline.

The Last Beekeeper also delves into the personal lives of the beekeepers, showing the toll their struggles are taking on their families. Hackenberg talks about how his beekeeping business has caused him to miss important events in his children's lives, while Mendes reveals how it has affected his relationship with his wife. The film also shows the beekeepers' ion for their work and the value they place on the bees themselves, as they speak about how they see them as living creatures that deserve to be treated with respect.

Overall, The Last Beekeeper is a thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on the important issue of the decline in the bee population and its impact on beekeepers and agriculture. It is a well-crafted and informative film that highlights the struggle of those who depend on bees for their livelihood, and their determination to overcome the challenges they face.

The Last Beekeeper is a 2009 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 7 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.