MAY 1, 2025

The Role of Pollinators in Food Security

Bees, butterflies, bats & more—pollination underpins one in every three bites we eat.

Honeybee collecting pollen from a flower

The Unsung Heroes of Agriculture

Pollinators are essential partners in food production. Over 75% of the world’s flowering plants rely on animal pollinators to reproduce.

Without them, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oilseeds would drastically decline—affecting both nature and nutrition.

The Decline and Its Consequences

Habitat loss, pesticide exposure, monoculture farming, and climate change threaten pollinator diversity.

The decline of bees and butterflies not only disrupts ecosystems but also increases food insecurity in pollination-dependent crops.

Restoring the Balance

Planting flowering native species, reducing pesticide use, and creating pollinator corridors can restore bee and butterfly populations.

Even a small balcony garden can serve as a vital food stop in a fragmented urban landscape.