4.3.3 Human Health Impacts
Significant pollinator decline would also affect the nutritional quality of agriculture
produce. Pollinated crops are responsible for supplying the majority of available fats,
vitamins A, C, and E, and minerals such as calcium, fluoride, and iron to the human
diet. Crops that are partially or fully dependent upon pollinators account for more
than 90% of our dietary vitamin C, for example [82].
A 2015 modeling analysis estimated that assuming a complete loss of pollinators,
over 70 million people in low-income nations would become vitamin A deficient;
173 million people would experience folate deficiency. A globally estimated 22.9%
of fruit supplies, 16.3% of vegetables, and 22.1% of nuts and seeds could be lost
without pollination, with significant variation by country. Annual global human
deaths due to malnutrition could increase by 1.42 million, while a 50% loss of
pollination services is estimated to potentially cause 700,000 additional annual
deaths [83].
Yield increases associated with pollinator activity in these crops are not insignificant, so a decline in crop yields means lower produce availability, nutritional quality,
and increasing prices of varying urgency around the world. Even considering the
possibility for human diet supplementation and fortification, many governments do
not regulate their food industries to the same extent as more affluent countries.
Moreover, the fact that many dietary supplements are actually derived from
pollinator-dependent plants adds a catch-22 to the threat of pollinated-crop declines.
5 Conservation and Protection of Bees
5.1 Beekeepers
Recommendations for bee management will vary from region to region due to
differences in climates and local fauna and flora. These recommendations may
come from a variety of sources such as commercial apiary experts to government
resources and apply to anyone seeking to manage their own bees, including
hobbyists.
Best practices include general recommendations not only for direct bee monitoring and treatments but also managing the surrounding areas where bees are kept
[84, 85].
1. Create or allow nectar-rich wild flower areas on the premises.
2. Plant a variety of flowers that can provide nectar and pollen across the length of
the honeybee’s foraging seasons, including early-flowering plants and plants for
late autumn.
3. Plant and manage hedges of mixed flowering species that are good for bee
foraging (the list will differ based on location, but examples include hawthorn,
hazel, crab apple, willow).
1 Understanding, Conservation, and Protection of Precious Natural Resources: Bees
31
Significant pollinator decline would also affect the nutritional quality of agriculture
produce. Pollinated crops are responsible for supplying the majority of available fats,
vitamins A, C, and E, and minerals such as calcium, fluoride, and iron to the human
diet. Crops that are partially or fully dependent upon pollinators account for more
than 90% of our dietary vitamin C, for example [82].
A 2015 modeling analysis estimated that assuming a complete loss of pollinators,
over 70 million people in low-income nations would become vitamin A deficient;
173 million people would experience folate deficiency. A globally estimated 22.9%
of fruit supplies, 16.3% of vegetables, and 22.1% of nuts and seeds could be lost
without pollination, with significant variation by country. Annual global human
deaths due to malnutrition could increase by 1.42 million, while a 50% loss of
pollination services is estimated to potentially cause 700,000 additional annual
deaths [83].
Yield increases associated with pollinator activity in these crops are not insignificant, so a decline in crop yields means lower produce availability, nutritional quality,
and increasing prices of varying urgency around the world. Even considering the
possibility for human diet supplementation and fortification, many governments do
not regulate their food industries to the same extent as more affluent countries.
Moreover, the fact that many dietary supplements are actually derived from
pollinator-dependent plants adds a catch-22 to the threat of pollinated-crop declines.
5 Conservation and Protection of Bees
5.1 Beekeepers
Recommendations for bee management will vary from region to region due to
differences in climates and local fauna and flora. These recommendations may
come from a variety of sources such as commercial apiary experts to government
resources and apply to anyone seeking to manage their own bees, including
hobbyists.
Best practices include general recommendations not only for direct bee monitoring and treatments but also managing the surrounding areas where bees are kept
[84, 85].
1. Create or allow nectar-rich wild flower areas on the premises.
2. Plant a variety of flowers that can provide nectar and pollen across the length of
the honeybee’s foraging seasons, including early-flowering plants and plants for
late autumn.
3. Plant and manage hedges of mixed flowering species that are good for bee
foraging (the list will differ based on location, but examples include hawthorn,
hazel, crab apple, willow).
1 Understanding, Conservation, and Protection of Precious Natural Resources: Bees
31