Welcome

Pollinators, which include bees, insects, birds, and other animals, are vital to production agriculture. Approximately 30 percent of the food and fiber crops grown throughout the world depend upon pollinators for reproduction. Recent significant declines in populations of managed and native bees and other pollinators pose a real threat to production agriculture that could result in billions of dollars of economic losses to the sector and the national economy. A number of initiatives and programs have been designed to rebuild populations of native pollinators and enhance the pollination services that they provide, however, leadership for most of these efforts has come largely from outside the agricultural community.

An Agricultural Led Effort

In 2006 a group of national agricultural and conservation leaders came together and began exploring how native pollinators could supplement the pollination services provided by managed bees and in turn increase on farm productivity and profitability. The Native Pollinators in Agriculture Project for the first time presented findings and recommendations developed by individuals who produce or support the production of food, feed and fiber. This Website is intended to showcase the efforts of the group and serve as a resource for agricultural leaders and growers, service providers and partners with interests in improving profitability, food security and biodiversity.

Agricultural Pollination Alliance

The Native Pollinator in Agriculture Work Group is building and supporting an Agricultural Pollination Alliance through which the agriculture sector can work collaboratively and proactively to establish and protect native pollinator habitat and increase populations of native and managed pollinators. The Alliance is working to gather information, identify priorities and engage partners and policy makers on the need to address pollination challenges. You are invited to join the Alliance in exploring this opportunity further.