Prioritizing Pollinators for Better Food Systems

20 May, 2021, Washington, DC - “Pollination is a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystem,” said Vimlendra Sharan, Director of FAO North America.“The diversity of bees and other pollinators is falling, and this concerning trend is caused by a number of factors, be it pesticides, insecticides, non-sustainable farming practices and mono-cropping,” continued Sharan.

To assess these factors and honor the vital work of pollinators, FAO North America and the Slovenian Embassy to the United States co-hosted the Webinar: “Pollinating a Dynamic Economy: Building a Better Food System Through Prioritizing Pollinators,” to mark the fifth annual observance of World Bee Day. 

Through a lively roundtable discussion an audience Q&A session moderated by Elena Clark, Congressional Engagement and Partnership Consultant with FAO North America, expert panelists sought to address complex pollination issues and discuss promising research and developments in apiculture, pollination, and beekeeping. The webinar also featured live art by Matt Willey, founder of the Good of the Hive, who painted a bee on his latest mural, “Conversation Piece”. While the panel discussed pollinators, the audience was able to watch the image of a bee come to life through Matt’s painting.

As underlined by Tone Kajzer, the Slovenian Ambassador to the U.S., the health of bees and pollinator populations has far-reaching implications. With more than 75 percent of the world’s food crops depending somehow on pollination, “bees play a crucial role in helping to tackle hunger, poverty, as well as contributing to job creation and economic growth,” stressed Kajzer.

Ladeja Kosir, of the Circular Change institute, highlighted the economic impacts and potential of honeybees and beekeeping, specifically. “Beekeepers are becoming an important stakeholder in different value chains, it is not only about producing honey, as we used to traditionally think,” stated Kosir. According to Kosir, honeybees are “symbols of the mindset” for a circular economy and the original early adopters of environmental conservationism.

Despite their economic and environmental benefits, the livelihood of pollinators is increasingly threatened by human-generated ecological conditions. Abram Bicksler, an Agricultural Officer in Plant Production and Protection Division at FAO, shed light on the global efforts to combat industrial agricultural practices that damage pollination. Bicksler pointed out that when analyzing methods to reverse pollinator decline, the diversification of crops and mainstreaming of agroecology research are just as important as addressing monoculture or the increasing size of farms.

For those not involved on the macro-level of pollination research or policy, there are various simple ways to assist pollinators from your own home. According to Bicksler, “if you’re in a place and you can leave the weeds in your garden and lawn, those can serve an important function” for local bees and pollinators.

Supporting community-based beekeeping programs is another valuable and direct method to assist pollinators. John Ferree, who serves as the President of the Northern Virginia Beekeepers’ Association and the Apiarist for the Kennedy Center and the Mount Vernon Estate described the importance of building community support for beekeeping. His Association maintains the mindset that beekeepers “have to be a solution and an asset and pivot people from being afraid to being impressed.” He concluded that local support is essential to have thriving hives and beekeeping groups. “If you aren’t doing outreach, you’re not taking care of your bees,” said Ferree.

The role of young people in strengthening support for bees and pollinators was repeatedly underscored by several panelists. Thankfully, according to Jamie Ellis, the Director of the University of Florida’s Honeybee Research and Extension Laboratory, there is no shortage of interest from younger generations and university communities in beekeeping. “I cannot believe the talent that is behind us right now… that generation is going to help us address the issue, so people are falling over themselves to be involved with pollinators these days”.

Ellis cautioned, however, that within bee conservation discussions, the broader pollination community cannot ignore the role of wild honeybees, especially in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which are key to overall bee conservation.

This session emphasized how, as we continue to face unique agricultural and environmental challenges, we must promote creative solutions to improve the health and sustainability of the global agricultural community and its pollinators. From traditional to commercial sectors, employing sustainable practices in beekeeping and agriculture will be crucial to help pollinators survive and support a more secure global food system.

Learn more about World Bee Day at: http://www.fao.org/world-bee-day/en/

Watch a recording of the webinar: http://bit.ly/RecordingMay20
Speaker Bios: https://bit.ly/0520bios