Pollinators Are More Diverse than We Think—And Face Challenges We Aren’t Fully Addressing
In the European Union, thanks to the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy in the European Green Deal, pesticide use is set to be cut by 50 percent by 2030. In the U.S., a few states, like New Jersey, have enacted policies cutting back on neonicotinoids, but national action in the U.S. remains an active fight we need to continue pursuing.
Even incremental changes can help: In the UK, government plans to protect pollinators call for a 10 percent reduction in pesticides by 2030 along with support for techniques like integrated pest management, by which farmers can reduce pests without pesticides.
Eaters can also contribute by planting pollinator-friendly gardens, and resources are available worldwide to help you. Here in the U.S., gardeners can check out this guide from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation to identify ideal plants for your region and tips from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for starting a pollinator garden. Friends of the Earth UK also has a list of bee-friendly plants for every season, and Food Tank compiled a list a few years ago of pollinator-supporting groups all around the globe.
The food system relies on pollinators—so let’s build a food system that pollinators can rely on, too. Let’s take action to protect and revitalize the stunning diversity of animals that pollinate our world, not just the ones like bees and butterflies that earn the most headlines. And let’s support farmers and food producers who are treating the land and our pollinators with respect.