Ancient grasslands with long habitat continuity host far richer bee and hoverfly communities than newly created sites. The study shows that restoring pollination services requires connecting new patches to old and continuous habitats.
A modelling study finds that a collapse of wild pollinators in Europe by 2030 could shrink crop yields by ~8%, cost global agri-food welfare €34 billion, and push Europe to become a net importer of nutrient-rich foods.
Across Africa, baobab trees rely on different nocturnal pollinators, bats in West Africa and moths in the South. Their flowers have co-evolved accordingly, showing why pollination ecology must guide restoration and conservation strategies.
A three-year garden study in Oregon shows pollinators consistently prefer wild-type native plants over cultivars. Native species supported higher pollinator richness and specialist bees, highlighting the importance of minimally modified plants for sustaining pollinator communities.
The APES framework, developed under the Horizon 2020 RADIANT project, links agroecological practices to 22 ecosystem services. Tested on dairy farms in Northern Italy, it shows how interacting practices generate tangible ecosystem benefits and guide sustainable transitions.
A global meta-analysis in Science identifies critical habitat thresholds for wild pollinators, 6 % for hoverflies, 16 % for solitary bees, 18 % for bumble bees, and 37 % for butterflies, showing that conserving connected, high-quality habitats is key to sustaining pollination.
In Zimbabwe, the Farming with Alternative Pollinators approach integrates marketable habitat plants along field edges. Results show higher wild pollinator diversity and farmer incomes, proving agroecological design can boost both biodiversity and livelihoods.
In central Lao PDR, Apis cerana thrives in agroecological systems but declines under intensive farming. The study shows that floral diversity and abundance, more than area alone, drive bee presence, highlighting agroecology as key to sustaining crop pollination.
In Mongolia, scientist Solongo Ganbold turned bee venom research into a start-up, Magic Bee Foods. Supported by FAO, her venture develops balms and ointments, creates rural jobs for women, and shows how science, innovation, and empowerment can reshape agrifood systems.
When honey bees sip droplets from mushrooms, it’s more than a forest curiosity. Research shows fungal extracts can slash bee virus loads thousands-fold, revealing biodiversity as hidden infrastructure vital to pollinator health and resilient food systems.
Native pollinators sustain food systems and ecosystems in the Himalayas but face climate-driven shifts. Research highlights urgent need for monitoring, DNA barcoding, and conservation strategies linking science and local knowledge.
Two-year study of 33 sites shows bee responses vary with season: spring bees depend on landscape-level resources, while summer–fall bees rely on local floral conditions. Intensive agriculture reduces species richness, underscoring the need for multi-scale, seasonal conservation.
Adaptive beekeeping initiatives in Africa, Europe, and North America show how training, infrastructure, and tailored support enable persons with disabilities to generate income, gain confidence, and engage in community life through inclusive apiculture.
A self-paced FAO Campus course (Spanish) for Latin America and the Caribbean links pollinator protection to responsible pesticide use, covering IPPM, non-chemical alternatives, and sustainable farming to boost food security and ecosystem health.
FAO, Embrapa, and ABELHA empower rural women in Pará, Brazil, through stingless beekeeping training. The manual covers native bee ecology, hive management, honey processing, and product marketing, fostering biodiversity, income, and gender equity.
This practical and engaging handbook by Dr. Dino J. Martins explores pollinator diversity and conservation across East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi). It combines scientific insights with actionable guidance to support pollinator-friendly practices and awareness.
In Angola, where agriculture remains a cornerstone of livelihoods and development, pollinators—especially bees—are both silent workers and fragile allies. As the country rebuilds its agricultural potential, integrating pollinator protection into national strategies is no longer an option, but a necessity.
Scientists document the Brazilian treefrog Xenohyla truncata as a potential amphibian pollinator—the first of its kind. Observations show it feeds on nectar and fruit, carrying pollen on its back, revealing an unusual pollination interaction in the Atlantic Forest.
