Wild Bees and Pollination

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Wild bees are important pollinators of many agricultural crops.

Honey bees, wild bees and other insect pollinators play a crucial role in agricultural ecosystems. Pollinators help to improve the yields of around 75% of the world’s most important agricultural crops. The estimated annual value of these pollination services is in excess of EUR 153 million. In addition, approx. 80% of wild plants are dependent upon, or at the least benefit from, pollination by insect pollinators. Wild bees and other pollinating insects such as hoverflies and other fly families, as well as butterflies, are highly diverse and species-rich groups of organisms which therefore make a substantial contribution to the high biodiversity of agricultural landscapes. Wild bees in particular are dependent upon linked habitats that are rich in flowers and microstructures, making them good indicators for the state of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Because of these relatively high habitat requirements, as well as possible contamination from pesticides and other stress factors, however, many wild bees and other insect pollinators in high-input agricultural landscapes are at risk.
We investigate the effects of the interaction of various threats of this sort on wild bees and other pollinators, how these effects impact the provision of pollination services for agricultural crops, and what measures can be taken to support pollinators and pollination services effectively in agricultural ecosystems.

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News

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Horizon2020 Project PoshBee : Wildbees fly for Research

What stresses wild bees? Is it certain plant-protection products, the absence of nutrient-rich foods – or a combination of both factors? Together with research partners throughout Europe, Agroscope is investigating these issues.

Video PoshBee


Media (in German)

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Flowering Habitats

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Research Platform « Flowering Habitats »

Agriculture faces many challenges. In order to be sustainable, it must produce as efficiently as possible and, at the same time, preserve the natural resources and allow farmers to make a reasonable income. One of the many challenges is to use tailored flowering elements on the farm, which promote ecosystem services (pollination, pest control, etc.) in order to enable high-quality agricultural production and preserve biodiversity. The platform "Flowering Habitats" by Agroscope, FiBL, HAFL and SBV aims to help overcome this challenge.

Other Projects in the Subject Area

Api nel favo

Bees

The Swiss Bee Research Centre belongs to Agroscope in Liebefeld-Bern. The Swiss Bee Research Centre works in the frame on the federal agricultural research for the needs of Swiss beekeepers. It supplies scientific and technical know-how for the benefit of beekeepers and of all concerned.