Globalisation and pollinators: Pollinator declines are an economic threat to global food systems

Abstract

Trade in animal‐pollinated crops plays an important role in global food systems: in many low‐income countries, export of pollinated crops such as coffee and cocoa plays a significant role in livelihoods, while food systems in many higher income nations depend on international trade in these crops to satisfy their local demands. Losses of pollination services therefore pose a significant risk to economies beyond the area directly affected. Using a simple extension of a common economic model, we explore which countries are most affected by a loss of pollination services in three case study groups of 25 countries that are vulnerable to different risks: pesticide use, natural disasters and economic debts. In all three cases, large, developed economies such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, are estimated to suffer the greatest economic losses, even if pollinator losses only affect smaller, less‐developed economies. In cases where higher income countries are affected by pollinator losses, there is a significant shift in the value of global pollinated crop production towards other large, unaffected countries. Our findings highlight the need for richer countries to invest in pollinator conservation beyond their own borders to maintain resilient food systems. We provide suggestions for further economic research to better understand and identify system vulnerabilities to pollinator losses. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Impacts of Pollinator Declines on Agri-Food Systems in Europe and Beyond

“…The exports of many pollinated crops, such as fruits, coffee and cocoa, are crucial for rural livelihoods in the global south (Murphy et al, 2022). However, whether these communities would economically suffer from a pollinator decline is not a straightforward question.…”

“…This decline is primarily attributed to land-use changes, intensive agricultural practices, urbanization, climate change, among other factors (Kremen et al, 2002;Müller et al, 2023;Potts et al, 2010;Wagner et al, 2021). The critical role of pollination services in agriculture and food security is well documented (Lippert et al, 2021;Murphy et al, 2022;Smith et al, 2022). However, the regional impacts of declining pollination services and the result vulnerability of European and global producers and consumer are not fully understand, especially the adjustments through trade, consumption and land-use changes 2 .…”

Declining potential nectar production of the herb layer in temperate forests under global change

“…The importance of wild pollinators and their pollination services for crops and wild plants is enormous (Ollerton, 2021). Pollinators are vital for both natural ecosystem functioning and human food production, which makes them a unique functional group of organisms (Ashman et al, 2004;Garibaldi et al, 2013;Klein et al, 2007;Murphy et al, 2022;Ollerton, 2017;Potts et al, 2010). However, there is overwhelming evidence that these unique communities are changing and declining in many locations across the globe (Potts et al, 2016).…”

Are increasing honey bee colony losses attributed toVarroa destructorin New Zealand driven by miticide resistance?

“…Reliance on pollinator-dependent crops has risen over recent decades (Aizen et al 2019) and there is evidence of pollinator limitation in many fruit and vegetable crops as honey bee stocks struggle to keep up with demand (Breeze et al 2014, Reilly et al 2020. The loss of pollination services not only threatens food security, but also poses a significant risk to economies that depend on the international trade of pollinated crops (Eilers et al 2011, Vanbergen and Insect Pollinators Initiative 2013, Murphy et al 2022.…”

“…The loss of pollination services not only threatens food security, but also poses a significant risk to economies that depend on the international trade of pollinated crops (Eilers et al . 2011, Vanbergen and Insect Pollinators Initiative 2013, Murphy et al . 2022).…”