An international study conducted by researchers from the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC), in partnership with the Federal University of Goiás, Brazil, revealed that more than 74% of crops pollinated by animals depend heavily on pollinators, contributing more 40% of its agricultural production. The research also reveals that current methodologies for determining dependence on pollinators tend to underestimate their importance in agricultural production.
The scientific article, published in the scientific journal Journal of Applied Ecology, features the participation of Catarina Siopa, Sílvia Castro, João Loureiro and Helena Castro, researchers from the Center for Functional Ecology (CFE) of the Department of Life Sciences (DCV) at FCTUC . The team also had the important collaboration of Luísa Gigante Carvalheiro, researcher at the Federal University of Goiás.
The main objective of this research was «updating and evaluating the dependence values of pollinators in agricultural crops at a global level», reveals Catarina Siopa, doctoral student at FCTUC and first author of the study. These values are «crucial for understanding and quantifying the contribution of pollinators to agricultural production and are used to guide management policies and practices aimed at sustainable food production», assures the researcher.
However, according to this study, the compilations of these values at a global level are outdated and do not take into account the variability between related crops, nor the limitation of pollen, that is, the production that is lost due to low quantity and/or quality of pollen deposited by pollinators.
The investigation was based on an analysis of data published in 2023, resulting from a systematic literature review conducted by Catarina Siopa, who compiled studies on pollination experiences. This study also includes a list of 141 agricultural crops and their dependency values, considering agricultural variety for the first time. The list is available here and will be updated regularly by the team.
The author also emphasizes that these results “constitute an important tool for producers and farmers in decision-making, as they can define the crops and, within these, the varieties to be planted according to pollination needs and the characteristics of the location”.
The article also highlights the importance of considering pollen limitation when assessing crop pollinator dependence. «Traditional methodologies can lead to significant underestimation, which can have serious implications for agricultural management and pollinator conservation policies», explains the researcher.
This work represents “an important step towards better understanding the contribution of pollinators to food security and towards developing sustainable agricultural practices”, he concluded.
Coimbra University
Tags: Study reveals underestimation dependence pollinators agriculture highlights importance
