How do we protect pollinators and maximise beneficial insects?

Background

We want to protect the nation from the effects of animal and plant diseases and pests, to enable sustainable production, trade, and a vibrant natural environment. Our focus is on building resilience to prevent, detect, adapt, and enable risk-based control.

Next steps

Get in touch with ari.comment@go-science.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DEFRA Research and innovation interests GOVUK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • To exchange knowledge between researchers working on pollinating insects across the NERC remit, and stakeholders interested in conserving pollinators

    The value of insect pollination of agricultural crops in the UK is estimated at £440 million, with over half of the pollination service thought to come from wild pollinators rather than managed honey bees . In resp...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: University of Cambridge

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to exchange knowledge between researchers and stakeholders interested in conserving pollinators, and develop strong long-term links between researchers and end-users.

  • Safeguarding Pollination Services in a Changing World: theory into practice (SURPASS2)

    Insect pollinators have undergone declines across the world, a result of factors including intensive agriculture, habitat loss, climate change and invasive species. This represents a major concern in Latin America (LATAM...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to deliver evidence for the creation of resilient pollination services, and establish interconnected work packages that build capacity to manage pollination services.

  • PollenNet: Using pollinators to increase farm resilience

    The COVID19 pandemic has exacerbated ongoing challenges with meeting pollination needs to ensure optimal crop yields in fruit trees and many other crops. Bee farmers have been unable to replenish bee populations as impor...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: AGRISOUND LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to pilot an innovative device for low-cost automated monitoring of pollinator abundance, which can contribute to understanding pollinator ecology and promote wild pollinators.

  • Sustainable pollination services for UK crops

    Pollination is a key ecosystem service, vital to the maintenance both of wild plant communities and agricultural productivity. Insect pollination, mostly by bees, is necessary for production in 84% of all crops in the Eu...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Leeds

  • Sustainable Management of Orchard Pollination Services

    Insect pollinators provide a vital ecosystem service supporting crop pollination and reproduction in wild plants. Reported declines in pollinators threaten this service and could have serious implications for food securi...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Reading

  • Integrating ecology and genetics for insect pest control

    Pest insects do enormous damage to human health (through transmission of diseases such as dengue fever and malaria) and to agriculture (through damage to crops or livestock). Insecticide resistance has been reported in m...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Oxford

  • Improving urban habitat management for insect pollinators and people

    This fellowship will improve the value of UK urban areas for insect pollinators by working with important stakeholder groups including urban land managers, policymakers, conservation practitioners, business, academic res...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: University of Bristol

  • TROPICAL - Translating Research Opportunities to enhance Pollination benefits to economically Important Crops And improve Livelihoods

    The University of Reading team of PI and Co-Is on this proposal have been at the forefront of developing and testing the science underpinning the optimisation of pollination service delivery to improve the yield and qual...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Reading

  • Using bee models to support decision-making in the implementation of the National Pollinator Strategy in Cornwall

    Recent pollinator declines raise serious concerns about the future of pollination ecosystem services for wild flowers and some crops in agricultural landscapes. In response, the UKs National Pollinator Strategy (NPS) has...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

  • Honeybee population dynamics: Integrating the effects of factors within the hive and in the landscape

    There is currently widespread concern about the health and survival of honeybees in both Europe and North America, and there have been devastating declines in the number of colonies in several countries, which have been ...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: Rothamsted Research