Conserving wild pollinators and increasing food security

As a society we are increasingly dependent on pollinators. The proportion of global agricultural production that depends on pollinators has increased four-fold since 1961. Much of this dependence is linked to wild pollinators. Where there are data on the status of pollinators, national or regional assessments show declines in the abundances of many wild bee and butterfly species, with a third or more facing local extinction. This could represent an unidentified risk – a pollination deficit – within agricultural supply chains.

Focusing on the procurement of pollinator-dependent crops, the purpose of this project, which brings together FFI, UNEP-WCMC, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and the University of East Anglia, is to catalyse private sector action to support the conservation of wild pollinator populations. To date we have analysed existing company action on pollination through interviews, surveys and benchmarking, assessed the vulnerability of the top 15 pollinator food crops, strengthened the business case to act and outlined a road map to enable sustainable pollinator management within supply chains. Find out more here.