{"id":1688,"date":"2012-07-12T10:28:43","date_gmt":"2012-07-12T09:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/engagement-and-impact\/?p=1688"},"modified":"2025-03-25T15:12:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T15:12:13","slug":"saving-britains-pollinators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/engagement-and-impact\/saving-britains-pollinators\/","title":{"rendered":"Saving Britain’s pollinators"},"content":{"rendered":"

Understanding the decline of pollinating insects<\/h2>\n

Pollinators are in decline worldwide and research is vital to understand which species suffer most, what causes the declines and how this will impact nature and society.<\/p>\n

For a decade, Professor Simon Potts and his colleagues in the Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, at the University of Reading, have been at the forefront of research into the causes of declines in bees and other pollinating insects. In 2017-18 his research broke through into mainstream national and global policymaking, playing a key role in the UK government\u2019s new National Pollinator Strategy for England and leading the way through a nationwide campaign to build public action and support for pollinators.<\/p>\n

Pollinators are in decline worldwide and research is vital to understand which species suffer most, what causes the declines, and how this will impact nature and society. With 75% of the world\u2019s food crops being at least partially reliant on animal pollination, every part of human society is vulnerable to loss of key species.<\/p>\n

Giving government advice<\/h3>\n

Simon Potts is an ecologist who has led major studies and policy reviews into the impacts of pollinator declines. In 2016 he co-chaired the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) that published a UN report highlighting the scale of the problem facing the world\u2019s pollinators and suggesting policies to reverse declines. The evidence has informed IPBES\u2019 2019 report on global habitat and species loss. His own scientific work has not only quantified the risks to different species of bees, but in 2018 demonstrated the annual value of pollinators to UK farmers was approximately \u00a31 billion.<\/p>\n

In 2017 he was appointed to the UK government\u2019s National Pollinator Strategy scientific advisory group. This has helped guide UK policies on banning certain pesticides and contributed to emerging policies designed to protect and boost species around the UK. Professor Potts has shown how this can be done, quantifying how flower rich field margins and organic farming can protect biodiversity. The research helps farmers, conservation charities and the Government implement changes that make a difference.<\/p>\n

“The natural world is wonderful and beautiful, but it\u2019s also a crucial resource for human prosperity. With some vital pollinators seeing dramatic declines, and the knock-on effects this has for many food crops, we must take action. It\u2019s important to save our pollinators to preserve nature and provide secure resources for future generations. Raising awareness and making fundamental changes is key to their survival.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n