That is, under this method and using aggregate data of different pollinator species,
the yield reduction of partially and fully pollination-dependent crops without insect
pollination was estimated to be at least 25%, also taking into account habitat
diversity. These estimated results were specific to Europe [77].
There is thus some disparity among results from studies that attempt to estimate
direct yield reduction, due to different methods, crops, as well as regions. However,
a decline of some sort is noted in all cases.
4.3.2 Economic Impacts
Besides a direct yield reduction estimation, the economic impact to the agricultural
and apiculture industries would be significant though variable depending on the costbenefit analysis.
The total economic value of crop pollination, considering different levels of
pollination dependency, was estimated to represent 9.5% of the world agricultural
product value in 2005 [78].
In a study that employed geographically-bounded information on global yields of
60 crops that either benefitted or depended upon pollinators, scientists investigated
economic vulnerability in relation to pollinator decline as the portion of agricultural
economy depending upon pollination benefits. The general pollination dependency
of agricultural economy appeared stable from 1993 to 2009, but producer prices for
pollination-dependent crops increased in the same time period [79].
Some economic studies can only provide specific examples due to cultivar and
regional specificity, but they are nonetheless illustrative of negative impact. A 1997
Canadian study estimated that pollination-improved apples provided returns of about
5–6% to the farmer compared to orchards without honey bees. With pollination
services costing about 1% of production expenses, the improved yield represented a
700% return to the farmer. A loss of pollination services would introduce a notable
reduction of economic value for the grower in this case [80].
More generally, a number of variables point to pollinator shortage as an actual,
recorded impact upon food economics. The demand for pollination services has been
increasing with the expansion of pollinator-dependent crops by acreage, at the same
time the supply of managed honey bees in some regions is declining; the rate of
growth of pollination service demand outstrips the managed bee supply rate of
growth. The cost of managed honey bee colony rentals in regions of the United
States has increased dramatically. For example, Pacific Northwest hive rentals
increased from US$19.25 in 1992 to nearly US$90 by 2009; if pricing followed
the US inflation rate, hive rental cost should have been US$25.73 in 2009. Colony
Collapse Disorder losses by 2007 forced a loosening of trade restrictions of imported
honey bee queens in order to sustain the vast almond industry; compensating for lost
locally managed colonies thus introduced additional costs to rebuild hive
populations and potentially new pathogens [81].
Taking into account economic factors such as calculated costs and crop conversion
to monetary units, it is therefore possible to better understand the impact of pollinator
decline in relation to economic trade as opposed to just a direct yield reduction.
30
C. Li
the yield reduction of partially and fully pollination-dependent crops without insect
pollination was estimated to be at least 25%, also taking into account habitat
diversity. These estimated results were specific to Europe [77].
There is thus some disparity among results from studies that attempt to estimate
direct yield reduction, due to different methods, crops, as well as regions. However,
a decline of some sort is noted in all cases.
4.3.2 Economic Impacts
Besides a direct yield reduction estimation, the economic impact to the agricultural
and apiculture industries would be significant though variable depending on the costbenefit analysis.
The total economic value of crop pollination, considering different levels of
pollination dependency, was estimated to represent 9.5% of the world agricultural
product value in 2005 [78].
In a study that employed geographically-bounded information on global yields of
60 crops that either benefitted or depended upon pollinators, scientists investigated
economic vulnerability in relation to pollinator decline as the portion of agricultural
economy depending upon pollination benefits. The general pollination dependency
of agricultural economy appeared stable from 1993 to 2009, but producer prices for
pollination-dependent crops increased in the same time period [79].
Some economic studies can only provide specific examples due to cultivar and
regional specificity, but they are nonetheless illustrative of negative impact. A 1997
Canadian study estimated that pollination-improved apples provided returns of about
5–6% to the farmer compared to orchards without honey bees. With pollination
services costing about 1% of production expenses, the improved yield represented a
700% return to the farmer. A loss of pollination services would introduce a notable
reduction of economic value for the grower in this case [80].
More generally, a number of variables point to pollinator shortage as an actual,
recorded impact upon food economics. The demand for pollination services has been
increasing with the expansion of pollinator-dependent crops by acreage, at the same
time the supply of managed honey bees in some regions is declining; the rate of
growth of pollination service demand outstrips the managed bee supply rate of
growth. The cost of managed honey bee colony rentals in regions of the United
States has increased dramatically. For example, Pacific Northwest hive rentals
increased from US$19.25 in 1992 to nearly US$90 by 2009; if pricing followed
the US inflation rate, hive rental cost should have been US$25.73 in 2009. Colony
Collapse Disorder losses by 2007 forced a loosening of trade restrictions of imported
honey bee queens in order to sustain the vast almond industry; compensating for lost
locally managed colonies thus introduced additional costs to rebuild hive
populations and potentially new pathogens [81].
Taking into account economic factors such as calculated costs and crop conversion
to monetary units, it is therefore possible to better understand the impact of pollinator
decline in relation to economic trade as opposed to just a direct yield reduction.
30
C. Li