The High Cost of Pollinator Loss (Ep. 18)

Three-quarters of all crops require pollination. While some crops are pollinated by the wind, the vast majority need insects. With insect populations seriously threatened, how will this affect our food supply? Today, we’re talking about a study that looks at the health effects of inadequate pollination. 

In order to demonstrate the impact of insufficient pollination, the researchers utilized a model framework that incorporated empirical evidence from a vast network of experimental farms spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The framework specifically focused on the “pollinator yield gaps” of crucial pollinator-dependent crops. The researchers then proceeded to employ a global risk-disease model to estimate the potential health consequences of these changes in each country, taking into account dietary risks and mortality rates. They also examined the economic value lost due to insufficient pollination in three select case study countries. The research was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

The results? The world is currently losing 4.7% of total production of fruit, 3.2% of vegetables, and 4.7% nuts. 

Good to know:

Researchers found that the biggest impact of insufficient pollination was found in middle-income countries, where heart disease, strokes, and cancers were already prevalent due to poor diets, smoking, and low levels of exercise. In rich nations, more people could still afford to eat healthily even if the price of healthy foods went up due to lower production, although the poorer people in those countries would still suffer.

Transcript:

Welcome to The Bee’s Knees, I’m your host Jacy Meyer. Today, we’re talking about the global loss of pollinators and its impact on human health. As you know, insect pollination is essential for the production of many critical, healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. These foods provide key nutrients and protect against non-communicable diseases. However, today most crops receive suboptimal pollination due to limited abundance and diversity of pollinating insects.

According to a recent study out of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, insufficient pollination is causing a 3-5% loss of fruit, vegetable, and nut production, which is leading to a global decrease in the supply of healthy foods. This means less people are getting the essential nutrients that these foods provide. The researchers reported this leads to an estimated 427,000 excess deaths annually. This comes not only from lost healthy food consumption but also associated diseases, like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. These diseases can be reduced with healthier diets. To put it in starker terms, the scientists say that 1% of all deaths can be attributed to pollinator loss. 

Now these impacts are unevenly distributed. Low-income countries lost significant income and crop yields from pollinator deficits. The study’s analysis shows that the economic value of crop production is 12-31% lower than if pollinators were abundant, mainly due to lost fruit and vegetable production. In middle-and high-income countries, impacts on food consumption and mortality can be attributable to insufficient pollination because of these countries’ higher rates of non-communicable diseases. This is the first study to measure the impact on human health due to the lack of wild pollinators.

Insect pollinators are currently suffering due to a host of direct and indirect pressures, many of which we’ve discussed in previous episodes, such as land-use change, intensive farming techniques, harmful pesticides, nutritional stress, and climate change. This inadequate pollination has led to a decrease in the production of healthy foods, which has impacted the health of people across the globe. 

These results underscore the urgent need to promote pollinator-friendly practices such as increasing flower abundance on farms, cutting pesticide use, and preserving nearby natural habitats. When we talk about saving the bees, it’s not just about the bees. It’s about us, all of us, and our planet.

Thanks so much for joining me today! Don’t forget to check out the website for more about this study and if you haven’t already joined The Hive, now is your opportunity! Sign-up for our twice a month newsletter at thebeesknees.website. Until next time, keep buzzing.