Russian beekeepers are warning of a crisis after mass deaths among their colonies. They're calling for the government to take measures to prevent a food supply catastrophe.

But it's not just in Russia. Global honeybee populations have been decreasing dramatically, threatening the world's food supply, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Bees have been dying en masse across 30 regions of Russia, and the agricultural watchdog has blamed uncontrolled insecticide use.

Viktor Morozov is a Russian beekeeper and one of the victims. He said that the pesticides being used in Russian fields have poisoned his bees.

Widespread bee deaths impact not only the availability of honey, but also a range of produce. The organization said the loss of honeybees can decrease the production of many fruits and vegetables, which will be substituted by staple foods like rice, corn or sweet potatoes. That could cause dietary issues. Coffee, apples and tomatoes are some of the crops that would be most affected if honeybees disappear.

Honeybee populations have been declining globally for decades. But in Russia, loose regulation and a lack of political will are worsening the situation.

Another Russian beekeeper Natalya Anikeeva said the government and the whole human race should realize how important it is to have bees on Earth.

"If there aren't any bees, that's a very scary thing. This is only the beginning. We need to save them now. We need to breed them. And in order to breed them, we need clean earth. We can't treat it with chemicals," said Anikeeva.

Many beekeepers want to see new laws introduced to regulate pesticide use more strictly. In the meantime, it could take years to replenish colonies, but Russian beekeepers are determined to do their bit in order to avert an environmental disaster.

(CGTN's Julia Chapman also contributed to this story.)