Study reveals underestimation of crop pollinator dependence values
The research suggests that the current methods used to assess pollinator dependence tend to underestimate their importance to agricultural production.
An international study carried out by researchers from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC), in collaboration with the Federal University of Goiás, Brazil, has shown that 74% of animal-pollinated crops are highly dependent on pollinators and that more than 40% of their production is linked to animal pollination. The research also shows that current methods for determining pollinator dependence tend to underestimate their importance in agricultural production.
The scientific article, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, involved researchers Catarina Siopa, Sílvia Castro, João Loureiro, and Helena Castro from the Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE) of the Department of Life Sciences (DCV) at FCTUC. The team also collaborated with Luísa Gigante Carvalheiro, a researcher at the Federal University of Goiás.
The main objective of this research, as explained by Catarina Siopa, a PhD student at FCTUC and the first author of the study, was to "update and evaluate the pollinator dependence values of crops at a global level." These values are "crucial for understanding and quantifying the contribution of pollinators to agricultural production and are used to guide policies and management practices aimed at sustainable food production," she says.
However, this study shows that compilations of these values at the global level are outdated and do not consider variability between related crops or pollen limitation, which refers to production lost due to low quantity and/or quality of pollen deposited by pollinators.
The research is based on an analysis of data published in 2023, resulting from a systematic literature review by Catarina Siopa, who compiled studies on pollination experiences. The study includes a list of 141 crops and their dependence values, taking into account agricultural diversity for the first time. This list is available here and will be regularly updated by the team.
The author also emphasises that these results "are an important decision-making tool for producers and farmers, as they can identify the crops and, within them, the varieties to be planted according to pollination needs and local characteristics".
The article also highlights the importance of considering pollen limitation when assessing crop pollinator dependence. "Traditional methods can lead to significant underestimation, which can have serious consequences for agricultural management policies and pollinator conservation," the researcher explains.
This work represents "an important step towards a better understanding of the contribution of pollinators to food safety and the development of sustainable agricultural practices," she concludes.
The scientific article "Animal-pollinated crops and cultivars – a quantitative assessment of Pollinator Dependence values and evaluation of methodological approaches" is available here.