The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has presented its first global report on "Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production". The intergovernmental body adopted the report in its plenary session in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), which ended on Sunday. It states that intensive agricultural practices and the use of pesticides in some regions of the world are responsible for the dramatic loss of bees and other pollinators.
Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks made the following statement: "If we did not have bees, we would soon have no apples, pears, cherries or plums. The bees and other pollinators are responsible for billions of euros of value creation upon which humanity is highly dependent. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services has shown that we need more sustainable agriculture practices, also in Germany and Europe. It cannot be that public money is used to support agriculture practices, which are ultimately destroying our livelihoods. Instead, we should pay farmers for the services that they provide for nature conservation and species protection and for cultural landscapes."
In many areas of the world dramatic loss of pollinators (mainly wild bees, butterflies and hoverflies, but also honeybees) has been seen for several years, for which there are currently no comprehensive explanations. The production of many high-quality plant foods, especially fruits and vegetables, depends on pollination.
One finding of the report is that the dramatic loss of bees in Europe and North America does not occur elsewhere in the world in the same way. Furthermore, it is clear that intensive agricultural production, and especially the use of pesticides, is one of the main threats to the pollinators and pollination. The answer is more sustainable agricultural practices with diverse structures. These include diversified cropping systems, organic farming and the development of ecological infrastructure, such as hedges, field margins or river banks.
The analysis of the research on pesticides and genetically modified (GM) plants was eagerly awaited. There is preliminary evidence for the negative effects of pesticides such as neonicotinoids and GM crops on the pollinators, but the scientific results are not certain enough to allow for a final assessment to be made. Especially the non-lethal effects of neonicotinoids need to be tested more in field trials under real field conditions in order to assess their potential impact on the survival and reproductive ability of bees, beetles, butterflies and many other insects. However, the study points out that the risk assessments of approvals of GM crops in most countries do not adequately consider the negative influence of impacts on pollinators.
For the first global study of IPBES, which was established 2012, experts have collected and analysed scientific evidence from all continents. The extensive experience and knowledge of indigenous peoples and local groups were also included. With the results, the new Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, whose secretariat is located in Bonn, provides the governments of the Member States with best, scientifically sound information upon which to base their decisions.
Publication
The study will be published shortly on the webpage of the IPBES .