Profit From the Plight of the Honeybee

Honeybees are mysteriously vanishing. The phenomenon has been reported in nearly half of the U.S. states, as well as in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Italy, Greece and Taiwan.

In some areas, 100% of the bees fly away in search of pollen and nectar, never to return, disappearing without a trace. The event now has an official name: Colony Collapse Disorder.

CCD is no small matter. Many fruits and vegetables need bees to pollinate them. One-third of the fruits, vegetables and nuts in our food supply directly relate to the work of honeybees.

All sorts of explanations, from pesticide spraying and falling queen-bee fertility to cell-phone pollution (they're alleged to interfere with bee radar) and fulfillment of Biblical prophecy, have been offered as possible causes.

Whether this is a world disaster or not, we at Stockpickr are tracking the Disappearing Honeybee portfolio, a list of stocks that could benefit from CCD.

First off, look for plants that don't require pollination from bees. Corn and soybeans fit the bill. The obvious play here is Archer Daniels Midland(ADM Quote), the "supermarket to the world."

Archer Daniels operates both a corn-processing and an oilseed-processing division, deriving much of its profit from helping corn and soybean farmers around the world. I guess it's possible the company will have to convert its corn-based ethanol operations back to food manufacturing should the disappearance of honeybees affect our foody supply.