Coinciding with this Bees’ Needs Week (18th-24th July) a study has been released which shows the role that bees and other pollinators play in stabilising the production of crops and fruits, reducing the uncertainty that can cause price increases.
Bees’ Needs Week
An annual UK initiative, coordinated by DEFRA, working alongside charities, businesses, conservation groups and academic institutions to raise awareness of the benefits of bees and other pollinators in crop production.
The initiative is open to anyone.
To get involved visit:
The benefits of a Bee Boost
The study carried out by scientists at Reading University, published in the journal Ecology Letters, reveals the stabilising effect of pollinators on crop yields and highlights the importance of protecting and enhancing such insects.
The study found 32% less variation in yields of plants visited by pollinators than those grown in their absence.
Leader of the study, Dr Jake Bishop, crop science researcher reports “Our findings suggest that preserving pollinators provides a double benefit, reducing fluctuations in food supplies as well as boosting supplies in the first place.”
“Stable and predictable production of nutritious food is a necessity for farmers and for global food security. We are seeing right now that instability or shocks across the food system can lead to dramatic increases in food price.”
“Around ½ of the experiments we analysed were testing the effect of real pollinator populations in real crop fields, so our results illustrate the benefits that pollinators are currently providing.”
Stripy Fig have BEEn shouting about the importance of pollinators for some time, check out our blog post from last September which provides ideas how you can boost pollinator species.
@DefraGovUk
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