Publications: Environmental protection
Pollinators and Agriculture
Around 70% of the world’s most produced crop species rely to some extent on insect pollination, contributing an estimated €153 billion to the global economy and accounting for approximately 9% of agricultural production. In Europe a great variety of bees, butterflies, beetles and other insects are responsible for pollination; their collective contribution to the food in our diet is essential, however, this contribution is often misunderstood and frequently miscommunicated. As Europe experiences an overall decline in pollinator biodiversity, an understanding of the drivers of pollinator population change is timely and of significance to the future of pollination. It is in our best interest to ensure the conservation of pollinators.
This publication examines the diversity and functions of insect pollinators, describes the value of pollination to agriculture, looks at the trend for pollinator population decline and explores options for reversing this trend.
Open publication (read online)
Download the Pollinators and Agriculture report (7.5Mb)
Soil Biodiversity and Agriculture
Fact: soil biodiversity is one of the richest, most complex biological communities on earth - it is home to a larger share of biodiversity and genetic diversity than tropical forests. This publication aims to raise awareness of the critical importance of soil and soil biodiversity. In addition, it highlights some good practice land management techniques that can be adopted to support the generation and regeneration of healthy soil.
Their diminutive nature and underground existence keeps them out of sight and out of mind; their other-worldly
appearance, their crawling, squirming, gnawing, conspire to render them unattractive; but what they lack in size and
beauty, they make up for in numbers and worth. The mites, lice and bacteria that inhabit the world beneath our feet are
vital for maintaining balanced ecosystems and agricultural production - quite simply, we could not live without them.
Open publication (read online)
Download the Soil Biodiversity & Agriculture report (5.7Mb)
Soil Biodiversity & Agriculture (abridged version)
A handy, in-brief version of the above report.
Open publication (read online)
Download the Soil Biodiversity & Agriculture (abridged version) report (3.6Mb)
Agriculture and Biodiversity
For decades producers have been attempting to balance this difficult equation: high quality production at the lowest possible price for consumers, while providing environmental services. This means producing environment not only as a by product of agriculture but also as a concrete service according to citizens’ current demand. After all, biodiversity and other ecosystem services produced by land managers have a price attached to them. As the best indicator for biodiversity we have available, we analyse bird population trends alongside the evolution of agriculture.
As land managers, we firmly believe that the various elements of this delicate equation can be balanced, via best practices, new techniques and new technologies, research and training, whilst bearing in mind the additional challenge of our changing climate.
Open publication (read online)
Download the Agriculture & Biodiversity report (1.7Mb)
