"The worlds largest almond grower has suddenly closed an eight-year research project to develop a new commercial pollinator. The almond industry contributes an estimated $21 billion annually to Californias economy and it is completely dependent on honeybees for its existence. For eight years the Wonderful Company, the worlds largest almond grower, had been funding a large research project to breed another commercial pollinatorOsmia lignaria, aka the blue orchard bee....."
Read more here: Scientific American