Decline of pollinators pose a serious threat to Coffee, Watermelon and Mangoes

The production of coffee, cocoa, watermelon and mango may be at risk due to the loss of insect pollinators, a new study shows.

The study showed a concerning trend of the combined pressures of climate change and agricultural activities. This has led to substantial declines in both the abundance and richness of insect pollinators.

The tropical crops were identified as having a heightened vulnerability to the interaction of climate change and land use.

“This means that crops such as coffee, cocoa, mango and watermelon which all rely on insect pollination are at the greatest risk,” the study published in the Science Advances journal indicated.

The study revealed that climate change and land use have significant implications for crop pollination.

It showed that more than 75 per cent crops depend on pollination by animals.

According to the Natural History Museum, pollinators visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off of pollen and transport pollen grains as they move from spot to spot.

They include bees, birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, beetles and small mammals.

Dr Joe Millard, lead author said the research indicated that the tropics are likely most at risk when it comes to crop production from pollinator losses. This is primarily due to the interaction of climate change and land use.

“While localised risks are highest in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, northern South America, and south-east Asia, the implications of this extend globally via the trade in pollination dependent crops,” Millard said.

Researchers compiled data from 1,507 crop growing sites around the world and catalogued 3,080 insect pollinator species.

The researchers showed that these crops play vital roles in both local economies and global trade, and that their reduction could cause increased income insecurity for millions of small-scale farmers in these regions.

Millard said, “As insects decline, due to being unable to cope with the interacting effects of climate change and land use, so too will the crops that rely on them as pollinators. In some cases, these crops could be pollinated by hand but this would require more labour and more cost.”

The study also underscored the importance of pollinator abundance and richness in delivering pollination services.

It is evident that efforts to mitigate climate change could significantly reduce the risk to future crop production, but challenges remain.

As the world grapples with the intricate web of climate change, land use, and biodiversity loss, the study showed a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the critical role played by pollinators in sustaining agriculture and food security.

Dr Tim Newbold, also an author of the study from UCL Centre for Biodiversity & Environment Research, UCL Biosciences said climate change poses grave threats not only to the natural environment and biodiversity, but also to human well-being.

“The loss of pollinators can threaten the livelihoods of people across the globe who depend on crops that depend on animal pollination,” he said.

“Our findings underscore the urgent need to take global action to mitigate climate change, alongside efforts to slow down land use changes and protect natural habitats to avoid harming insect pollinators,” Newbold said.