Studies increasingly demonstrate that pollinator diversity provides unique and essential ecosystem services relevant to food security, and that diverse pollinator groups are vital in promoting environmental security through ecological monitoring (Mutavi Katumo et al. Plant Diversity, 2023).
According to FAO, 75% of agricultural crops that are essential for global food security and nutritional diversity depend on the valuable work of bees and other pollinating insects, as well as nearly 35% of global agricultural production in volume terms.
In this context, organic farming, which does not use synthetic chemicals but is based on practices that respect natural cycles and integrate the work of insects, recognising them as a key element of the agronomic approach, creates an environment favourable to their conservation and to that of ecosystems and biodiversity.
However, the data from the Ispra Report “Plants and pollinating insects: an alliance for biodiversity” warn: over 9% of bee and other pollinating insect species are at risk of extinction. In economic terms, the value of pollination is estimated at around 153 billion euros per year worldwide, 22 billion euros at European level and 3 billion euros at national level, while global agricultural production directly associated with bee activity represents a value that stands at between 199 and 589 billion euros.
The survival of bees is increasingly threatened by climate change, the intensive use of chemical pesticides, pollution and the loss of natural habitats. The climate crisis represents a double problem that not only affects the survival of pollinators, but also alters the growing seasons of crops, meaning that pollinators may not be available when the crop is flowering and needs pollination (FAO).
“ISPRA reports a 30% loss of bee colonies compared to ten years ago, a decidedly alarming figure because pollinators are essential to guarantee food security and environmental sustainability - underlines Maria Grazia Mammuccini, President of FederBio - World Bee Day, which this year has as its theme "Bees inspired by nature to feed us all", to underline their crucial role in agri-food systems and in the health of ecosystems, therefore becomes an important opportunity to launch an appeal for the protection of these precious insects for healthier and more resilient agricultural production. Thanks to their tireless work, they allow the reproduction of many crops, improving harvests and biodiversity. Numerous studies and research attest how organic farming actively contributes to the protection of bees, highlighting how in organic fields the density of pollinating insects is decidedly higher than in conventional ones. Organic practices in fact create safe environments for bees, promoting their health and increasing the efficiency of pollination. Protecting bees is a collective responsibility: we can all contribute through conscious choices, based on organic and sustainable products, to ensure a healthier future for the agricultural system and for our planet”.
