By: Leonel Baldazo
About 40% of the worlds land is reserved for farm land that is used to grow vegetation (Owen et. al., 2005). The crops grown on these farms are of course plants that reproduce via pollinators. However, with pollinator population decreasing drastically like the honey bee; what does that mean for the crops of the world? This article explores the possibilities that come from farmland owners implementing steps to preserve pollinators like the honeybee in there farmland. By implementing these methods the world will be able to have food security as well as conservation of important pollinators.
One of the techniques talked about in this article is about making the farmland friendlier towards pollinators. This will be done by introducing floral and nesting areas within the farmlands to bring in more pollinators (Burkel et al., 2017). This is expected to increase the connectivity of pollinators to the farmland. The objective is to bring in a variety of pollinators that way crops don't have to rely on only one type of pollinator. Applying these methods could help not just human sustainability but the whole biosphere; since the protection of pollinators means more plant reproduction. However, accomplishing this isn't as simple. Of course there are some potential draw backs like introducing an invasive species into the crop land. There is also the question of how do we interest farmers into investing in these methods.
Owen, J. (2005) Farming Claims Almost Half Earth's Land, New Maps Show. National Geographic News, 9. Available at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1209_051209_crops_map.html (accessed 5 November 2016).
About 40% of the worlds land is reserved for farm land that is used to grow vegetation (Owen et. al., 2005). The crops grown on these farms are of course plants that reproduce via pollinators. However, with pollinator population decreasing drastically like the honey bee; what does that mean for the crops of the world? This article explores the possibilities that come from farmland owners implementing steps to preserve pollinators like the honeybee in there farmland. By implementing these methods the world will be able to have food security as well as conservation of important pollinators.
One of the techniques talked about in this article is about making the farmland friendlier towards pollinators. This will be done by introducing floral and nesting areas within the farmlands to bring in more pollinators (Burkel et al., 2017). This is expected to increase the connectivity of pollinators to the farmland. The objective is to bring in a variety of pollinators that way crops don't have to rely on only one type of pollinator. Applying these methods could help not just human sustainability but the whole biosphere; since the protection of pollinators means more plant reproduction. However, accomplishing this isn't as simple. Of course there are some potential draw backs like introducing an invasive species into the crop land. There is also the question of how do we interest farmers into investing in these methods.
References
Burkle, L. A., Delphia, C. M., O'Neill, K. M. and Gibson, D. (2017), A dual role for farmlands: food security and pollinator conservation. J Ecol, 105: 890-899. doi:10.1111/1365-2745.12784Owen, J. (2005) Farming Claims Almost Half Earth's Land, New Maps Show. National Geographic News, 9. Available at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1209_051209_crops_map.html (accessed 5 November 2016).
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