Pollinator Welfare

Pollinators in Agricultural Landscapes

Agricultural landscape simplification has dramatically reduced pollinator diversity and welfare across temperate farming regions.

Key Facts

Approximately 40% of invertebrate pollinator species face extinction risk globally
Agricultural intensification including hedgerow removal and pesticide use has halved farmland insect diversity
Bumblebee species in North America have declined by 87% in some areas over 30 years
Wildflower strips along field margins increase pollinator diversity by 100 to 300% in treated areas
Agri-environment payment schemes that fund wildflower margins have shown measurable pollinator recovery

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of billions of pollinating insects is connected to landscape structure. Bees and other pollinators in simplified agricultural landscapes face food scarcity, exposure to pesticide mixtures, and loss of nesting habitat simultaneously. Landscape-level interventions including wildflower corridors and reduced pesticide use are effective at population and individual scales.

What You Can Do

Plant native wildflowers in gardens, verges, and balconies to provide forage for pollinators
Support agri-environment schemes that pay farmers to create wildflower strips and reduce pesticide use
Advocate for agricultural policy that requires set-aside wildflower habitat as a standard farm practice