1st National Ag Pollinator Forum
February 24-25, 2009
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Arlington, VA
Hosted by the Native Pollinators in Agriculture Work Group
Over the past several years declines in populations of managed and native bees and other pollinators have been growing, as have calls for initiatives and programs designed to rebuild populations of native pollinators and enhance the pollination services that they provide. Leadership for most of these efforts has come largely from within the pollination stakeholder community.
Two years ago a group of national agricultural 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 Pollinator in Agriculture Work Group estimates that 15 percent of the combined value of U.S fruit, nut, vegetable and field crop production can be attributed to pollination services provided by native bees!
Insect-pollinated crops produced in the United States are valued at over $20 billion but with the emergence of Colony Collapse Disorder, the “free” pollination services provided by native pollinators is taking on even greater importance.
On February 24-25, 2009, the Work Group hosted a national forum on Native Pollinators in Agriculture. The forum, held immediately prior to the 2009 USDA Agriculture Outlook Conference, featured the latest information on CCD and steps the ag community can take to capitalize on the “free” services provided by native pollinators.
Program highlights included:
| * | Discussion on the opportunities and benefits of native pollinators; |
| * | Latest developments on colony collapse disorder; |
| * | Habitat establishment and proper pesticide use; |
| * | Grower perspectives about how pollinator protection practices have helped their bottom line; |
| * | Projects growers can put on the ground to enhance native pollinator populations; and |
| * | The launch of a national ag pollinator alliance |