The basic problem is that we use honey bees for double duty. Not only to use local plants to make honey, but their hives are transported around to pollinate crops hither and yon. This exposes them to a lot more diseases and parasites then they would experience normally.
But there are good alternatives for both roles. For example, Africanized “killer” bees are already producing some quantity of honey suitable for consumption. Unlike honey bee honey, whose flavor is usually based on one particular agricultural plant, the killer bees honey is flavored by the predominant wildflower of the season. This year, for example, it has a noticeable caramel flavor.
As far as pollinating crops, any number of bee species would be suitable, if they can be hived and transported without excessive casualties.
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