Recent scientific studies reveal that three-quarters of insect populations have vanished over the past 30 years. To address this decline, scientists from 13 countries have teamed up under the AGRI4POL project, aiming to take a different approach. Instead of focusing solely on environmental management, the researchers plan to make crops more appealing to pollinators like wild bees and butterflies.
“In doing so, we aim for a win-win situation for both farmers and insects,” says research associate Andries Temme from Wageningen University & Research.
Pollinating insects are crucial, with 80% of agricultural crops and one-third of overall agricultural production relying on them, according to a press release.
“Yet plant breeders have often ignored the attractiveness of flowers to pollinators,” says Temme. “As a result, insects prefer wildflowers over crops in agricultural and horticultural sectors, and those wildflowers are becoming scarcer.”
Causes of Insect Decline
That is just one of the reasons for the decline in insects, explains ecologist Thijs Fijen from Wageningen University & Research. He says there are fewer natural habitats and what remains is less diverse and often not connected to other natural areas. “Furthermore, excess nitrogen and the use of insecticides also play a role.”
Another major cause is the large-scale cultivation of a single crop, or monoculture. V says that his creates a one-sided food supply for pollinators and a lack of suitable nesting sites, making it difficult for them to survive and reproduce in agricultural areas. This not only leads to unbalanced ecosystems but also reduces the yields of crops that depend on insects for pollination.”
Project Targets
The AGRI4POL project aims to tackle these challenges by enhancing the appeal of crops to pollinators. The scientists are working towards creating change across Europe, with the goal that agricultural crops will not only avoid harming insect populations but will actively support their recovery.
“We see differences in attractiveness between varieties of the same crops, but we don’t yet know exactly why that is,” Fijen says. “Is it because of the amount of nectar? The proteins in the pollen? The volatiles with which flowers lure pollinators? Or perhaps visual cues, such as UV stripes on petals, guiding insects where to go? We intend to explore all these elements.”
Temme says that the knowledge we acquire can be used to adapt existing varieties of crops or develop new ones. “The goal here is to create a level playing field for both pollinators and farmers, where crops are attractive to pollinating insects and farmers benefit from higher yields and higher-quality harvests.”
Focus on Sunflowers and Field Beans
In the AGRI4POL project, researchers from Wageningen University & Research, along with their French counterparts, are primarily focusing on sunflowers and broad beans.
“In France, we are conducting extensive trials in which cameras record how many insects, and which species, visit different varieties. We then use artificial intelligence to analyse these images. This represents an entirely new approach to studying cultivated crops,” Temme explains.
A Different View of Agriculture
The next step is to use the most attractive varieties, which requires a shift in how agriculture is viewed. For example, combining different varieties of the same crop or even multiple crops can help extend the flowering period. A successful approach involves considering the entire cultivation system. Temme emphasizes the potential benefits for farmers: sunflowers and broad beans both benefit from improved pollination, which can lead to higher yields and reduce the risk of pollinator shortages.
This new approach is a significant step towards promoting biodiversity and provides an opportunity to turn the negative trend around, creating a positive cycle where farmers and nature support each other, concludes Fijen.
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