veganism: If 80% of vegetable crops are pollinated by captive bees, aren't 80% of the vegetable crops produced by the "exploitation" of bees? These bees are held captive just like honeybees are. There is no harm done to the bees by either using them for pollination, nor harvesting the honey they produce. Is it ok for vegans to be eating crops that are pollinated by captive bees? It would seem like that would go against the definition of "vegan". Please answer just the questions asked. No need to defend veganism as if it's being attacked.|||Interesting question but I am going to tuck my tail between my legs and say that I am not touching htis one with a ten foot pole. However, with the honey bee crises I don't think we could too much without our captive bees. edit- I am not sure if this is everywhere but where I live in the Midwest US farmers do use some captive bees for pollination. There are some real nice honey famers close to us and they have been hit hard by the honeybee crises. I know there are few bad ones in every lot, but these people are very nice and treat their bees with 110% respect. They do not do any of the burning or ect. Like I said though they are a small operation. I am sure some of the larger ones do use exploitive techniques.|||good question! I guess true vegans need to grow their own food if they want to be 100% true to their beliefs..|||Um, good luck finding veggies that weren't pollinated with bees! Whether wild or not, they still do the same job. The only difference is one lives in a moving hive and one in a stationary one. The quality of life for the bees is the same.|||"If 80% of vegetable crops are pollinated by captive bees....." Its a shame you didn't quote the next sentance which says "...the 80% figure is likely wrong. Independent surveys suggest that honeybees are the dominant pollinators for only 15% of the world's crops", and they are talking about bees, not captive bees. http://www.vegetus.org/honey/ecology.htm A troll misquoting a website for thier own purpose, surely not ! If a bee were "captive", how would it pollinate vegetables ? We don't use this process in the UK so I guess UK vegans are OK to carry on eating|||The only troll here is Mikey H flogging as a vegetarian and one concerned about animal rights when he's selling his hay to feed cattle that are to be cruelly slaughtered. The argument is logical and makes sense. That's why only Breathairians are able to stick by what they believe. Damn vegans and vegetarians always find an "exception".|||you live in a house (i assume), do you consider yourself as being held captive? if bees were held captive, the could not get out. that is what captive implies. if they can't get out, they would not be able to make honey or pollinate anything. when you raise bees, you want them to live in your hive boxes but you do not keep them in the boxes. they come and go as they want. and people wonder why vegans get a bad name. where did 80% pollination number come from? seems like it should be much higher.