75% of crops depend on pollinators - they must be protected
![](https://assets.weforum.org/article/image/large_hxFF9kHwC1CVvWQcTrPuNAvWpSqjV56TsRGF3P5sa60.jpg)
Without pollinators, like bees, our global agriculture would be drastically different. Image: Patrick Brinksma/Unsplash
![A hand holding a looking glass by a lake](/uplink.jpg)
Get involved with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale
Stay up to date:
Future of the Environment
- Pollinators like bees are essential to 35% of crop production.
- Foods including coffee, tomatoes and cocoa all depend on them.
- 40% of the world’s insect species are threatened with extinction.
There is an old custom among beekeepers: they must let their swarms know about important events, such as births, marriages or funerals. Failing to “tell the bees” is said to bring bad luck, less honey, deserted hives and even death. It may be folklore, but it is a reminder of the species’ critical role in agriculture and food production.
By carrying pollen from plant to plant, pollinators – of which bees are among the best-known – are instrumental in 35% of global crop production. Nearly three-quarters of crops that produce fruits and seeds for human consumption depend on pollinators to some extent.
Pollination is the highest agricultural contributor to yields worldwide, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Coffee, apples, almonds, tomatoes and cocoa are all on the list of crops that depend on the work of nature’s pollinators.
Small as they are, pollinators will also play a key role in helping to achieve a number of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – from tackling hunger and poverty to job creation and economic growth.
![From increased food production to increased biodiversity our pollinators give us so much.](https://assets.weforum.org/editor/uXyYcPbzPZ9J-6DcTnECyTLZ8E7DgKQWBlmr9Asjajg.png)
Imbalanced diet
The significant decline of bees and other pollinators, which include many insects, bats and birds, is affecting crop yields and nutrition, says the FAO.
As many as 40% of the world’s insect species are threatened with extinction. Dwindling numbers of pollinators are related to a mix of intensive farming, mono-cropping, liberal use of pesticides, climate change and pollution.
The FAO has highlighted that if the trend continues, vitamin-rich crops such as fruits, nuts and many vegetables will be replaced by staples such as rice and potatoes.
Instead of the “five a day” recommended by many countries, we would be left eating a highly imbalanced diet.
And it’s not just us: declining availability of certain crops will adversely affect biodiversity, with an impact on the entire natural ecosystem.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2019 suggests that the global decline in biodiversity overall – with a 60% reduction in species since 1970 – could have repercussions on everything from health and socioeconomic development to productivity and even regional security.
How does the World Economic Forum encourage biological diversity?
Bucking the trend
To reverse the decline in pollinators, the FAO advocates improving habitats, restricting the use of pesticides, boosting biological pest control and diversifying farms to create a balanced ecosystem for bees and their fellow pollinators.
These improvements have the potential to increase crop yields by a quarter.
Failing to do so will likely mean that “telling the bees” will truly become a thing of the past, with serious implications for the planet.
Don't miss any update on this topic
Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.
License and Republishing
World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.
The Agenda Weekly
A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda
You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails. For more details, review our privacy policy.
More on Nature and BiodiversitySee all
Akanksha Khatri
August 15, 2024
Henna Hundal and Sikander Bizenjo
August 8, 2024
Tom Crowfoot
August 7, 2024
Gabi Thesing, Ian Shine and David Elliott
July 25, 2024
Kate Whiting
July 23, 2024