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Article Publish Status: FREE
Abstract Title:

Bee pollination outperforms pesticides for oilseed crop production and profitability.

Abstract Source:

Proc Biol Sci. 2019 10 9 ;286(1912):20191550. Epub 2019 Oct 9. PMID: 31594515

Abstract Author(s):

Rui Catarino, Vincent Bretagnolle, Thomas Perrot, Fabien Vialloux, Sabrina Gaba

Article Affiliation:

Rui Catarino

Abstract:

Nature-based agriculture that reduces dependency on chemical inputs requires using ecological principles for sustainable agro-ecosystems, aiming to balance ecology, economics and social justice. There is growing evidence that pollinator-dependent crops with high insect, particularly bee, pollination service can give higher yields. However, the interacting effects between insect pollination and agricultural inputs on crop yields and farm economics remain to be established to reconcile food production with biodiversity conservation. We quantified individual and combined effects of pesticides, insect pollination and soil quality on oilseed rape (L.) yield and gross margin, using a total of 294 farmers' fields surveyed between 2013 and 2016. We show that yield and gross margins are greater (15-40%) in fields with higher pollinator abundance than in fields with reduced pollinator abundance. This effect is, however, strongly reduced by pesticide use. Greater yields may be achieved by either increasing agrochemicals or increasing bee abundance, but crop economic returns were only increased by the latter, because pesticides did not increase yields while their costs reduced gross margins.

Study Type : Environmental, Insect Study
Additional Links
Problem Substances : Pesticides : CK(2214) : AC(473)

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