Safeguarding pollinators

This study entitled “Safeguarding pollinators and their values to human well-being” estimates that “75%
of major crops – cereals, fruits – depend on pollination by animal species”. Their disappearance would lead to a loss of 5 to 8% of global agricultural production, which would trigger an increase in potential resurgences of diseases linked to our dietary balance (heart disease) and would increase “by 1.4 million per year, the number of additional deaths”.

Safeguarding pollinators – a cornerstone of human well-being

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, flies, birds and bats are fundamental to food security, biodiversity and human well-being. Approximately 75% of the world’s leading crop types benefit to some extent from animal pollination, including fruits, nuts, seeds and high-value crops such as coffee, cocoa and oilseed rape. Without pollinators, an estimated 5–8% of global crop production would be lost.

Beyond crop yields, pollination supports the availability of key micronutrients, including vitamins A and C and folate, which are essential for human health. Pollinators also sustain wild plant reproduction, ecosystem stability, cultural heritage and livelihoods, particularly through beekeeping and traditional land-use practices.

Evidence indicates widespread regional declines in wild pollinators and significant pressures on managed pollinators. Major drivers include land-use change and agricultural intensification, habitat loss, pesticide exposure, pathogens, invasive species and climate change. Although the global number of managed honeybee colonies has increased, high seasonal losses and declining wild pollinator diversity remain major concerns.

The article highlights that effective responses are available. These include ecological intensification of agriculture, diversified farming systems, ecological infrastructure such as flower-rich habitats, improved pesticide regulation, and better management of pollinator health and trade. Long-term protection of pollinators requires coordinated research, policy action and practical implementation to maintain pollination services for future generations.
 

► Read the original article in English

See also:

• Wildflower Strips Benefit Bees
• The Threats Facing Our Bees
• Neonicotinoids
• Are Bees Victims of Their Own Intelligence?
• The Heat of Flowers
• Practical Guide: 3.4 Fauna at the Apiary