Honeybee population far from meeting global agricultural pollination needs: study
According to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the current honeybee population is far from meeting global agricultural pollination needs (CAAS).
According to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the current honeybee population is far from meeting global agricultural pollination needs (CAAS).
Pollinators are vital to agricultural production, according to studies. Insect pollination is necessary for 75.7 percent of the world’s major crops, and insects account for 9.5 percent of total crop output value.
Because of environmental damage, irrational pesticide use, and other factors, the number of wild pollinators has declined dramatically in recent decades, and it’s unclear whether domestic bees can meet agricultural pollination needs.
From 1989 to 2019, a research team from the CAAS examined the planting situation of 49 crops that rely on bee pollination, as well as the global number of bee colonies, in collaboration with researchers from Argentina.
The findings of the study revealed that while global demand for agricultural pollination increased over time, domestic bee pollination capacity decreased year after year.
Oil crop pollination accounted for more than 70% of total crop pollination demand, according to the findings.
The research lays a solid scientific foundation for apiculture and agricultural development in the long run.
It was just published in Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment.
