scholarly journals Economic Value of Pollination Service of Agricultural Crops in Ethiopia: Biological Pollinators

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Getachew Worku Alebachew
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
No Production ◽  
Agricultural Crops ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Pollinator Decline ◽  
Economic Production ◽  
Value Loss ◽  
Minor Crop ◽  
Production Value

Abstract The most important ecosystem service for sustainable crop production is pollination, the mutualistic interaction between plants and animals. Honeybees are being indispensable role in this process. The total economic value of crop pollination worldwide has been estimated at €153 billion annually. Animal pollination of agricultural crops is provided by both managed and wild pollinators. The aim of this study was to determine the economic value of pollination services and vulnerability of Ethiopian agriculture in the face of pollinator decline. An improved approach to determine the economic value of pollination (EVP) services is applied to multiply a crop’s total value by a coefficient between zero and one representing the crop’s dependency on pollination services for production. The potential production value loss due to lack of pollinators is also computed as the ratio of EVP to economic production value. Then EVP was $ 815.2 million dollars and vulnerability of Ethiopian agriculture due to lack of pollinators 16% in the 2015/16 crop production season. The regional state of Oromia benefited the most followed by the regional states of Amhara and South Nation Nationality People (SNPP). Coffee, the leading crop, has the highest EVP in the country followed by Faba beans and Nug (Guizotia abyssinica). Ethiopia has highly benefited from biological pollinators, so protecting them has significant role in the country’s economy. Most crops in Ethiopia have no pollination dependency ratio and some minor crop has no production data, incorporating them possible to better estimation of EVP service for the future.

scholarly journals Pollinator Decline – An Ecological Calamity in the Making?

2018 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Pollinator Decline ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
The Media ◽  
Abundance And Diversity

Since pollination by insects is vitally important for much of global crop production, and to provide pollination services more widely throughout the planetary ecosystems, the prospect of an imminent ‘pollination crisis’, due to a die-off of flying insects, is most disquieting, to say the least. Indeed, the term ‘ecological Armageddon’ has been used in the media. However, to know whether or not a wholesale decline in flying pollinators (including non-bee species) is occurring across the world is very difficult, due to an insufficiency of geographically widespread and long-term data. Bees, as the best documented species, can be seen to be suffering from chronic exposure to a range of stressors, which include: a loss of abundance and diversity of flowers, and a decline in suitable habitat for them to build nests; long-term exposure to agrochemicals, including pesticides such as neonicotinoids; and infection by parasites and pathogens, many inadvertently spread by the actions of humans. It is likely that climate change may impact further on particular pollinators, for example bumble bees, which are cool-climate specialists. Moreover, the co-operative element of various different stress factors should be noted; thus, for example, exposure to pesticides is known to diminish detoxification mechanisms and also immune responses, hence lowering the resistance of bees to parasitic infections. It is further conspicuous that for those wild non-bee insects – principally moths and butterflies – where data are available, the picture is also one of significant population losses. Alarmingly, a recent study in Germany indicated that a decline in the biomass of flying insects had occurred by 76% in less than three decades, as sampled in nature reserves across the country. Accordingly, to fully answer the question posed in the title of this article ‘pollinator decline - an ecological calamity in the making?’ will require many more detailed, more geographically encompassing, more species-inclusive, and longer-term studies, but the available evidence points to a clear ‘probably’, and the precautionary principle would suggest this is not a prospect we can afford to ignore.

scholarly journals Contribution of animal pollination to food nutrient production in Benin-West Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hermann Cyr Toni ◽  
Armand Avohou ◽  
Bruno Agossou Djossa
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Food And Agriculture Organization ◽  
Animal Pollination

Abstract Background Pollinators play a key role in human food production by improving the yield and quality of crops. Several studies assessed the economic value of pollination services delivered by animals through yield improvement. However, little is known about the contribution of animal pollinators to nutrient production. This study assessed the contribution of animal pollination to nutrient production in Benin. Food and Agriculture Organization data on crop production and United States Department of Agriculture crop composition data of 37 leading crops were used. These crops were categorized into five classes, depending on their degree of dependence on animal pollinators for fruit production. Results The study showed that more than half of the studied crops (56.75%) relies at different levels on animal pollination for fruit production. Minerals, namely fluoride (83.92%) and selenium (52.62%), were the most delivered by animal-pollinated crops. Roughly 50% of lipids outputs and 24% of proteins outputs were obtained from pollinator-dependent crops. Significant outputs of fat-soluble vitamins up to 65% were also attributed to animal pollination. A low contribution of animal pollination (up to 8%) was reported for water-soluble vitamins. Conclusion Animal-pollinated crops significantly contribute to the supply of nutrients and consequently to nutritional and food security in Benin. Conservation of pollinators should be considered as an important component of food security programs in the country.

scholarly journals Measuring the economic value of pollination services: Principles, evidence and knowledge gaps

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 124-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Hanley ◽  
Tom D. Breeze ◽  
Ciaran Ellis ◽  
David Goulson
Keyword(s):  
Economic Value ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Pollination Services

scholarly journals Is Cut-Flower Industry Promotion by the Government Negatively Affecting Pollinator Biodiversity and Environmental/Human Health in Uganda?

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-52
Author(s):  
Bin Mushambanyi Théodore Munyuli
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
The Government ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Impact

A study was conducted from 2010 to 2012 around the flower growing areas in central Uganda to generate baseline information on the status of pollinators. Primary data were gathered using a questionnaire that aimed at determining farmers and flower farm officials’ perceptions on the impact of activities carried out inside greenhouses on pollinators, human health, and on crop production in the surroundings. Results indicated that the quantity of pesticides and fertilizers applied daily varied among the different flower farms visited. Bee species richness and abundance varied significantly (P<0.01) according to flower farm location, to the landscape vegetation type, and to field types found in the surrounding of flower farms. Bee richness found around flower farms varied in number from 20 to 40 species in total across seasons and years. Bee density increased significantly with the increase in flower density. Small-scale farmers were aware of the value and importance of pollination services in their farming business. There was no clear evidence of a direct effect of agrochemicals application on bee communities living in the surrounding habitats. There is a need for further research to be conducted on human health risks and for toxicological studies on soils, plants, flowers, and bees in the farm landscape.

scholarly journals Pupuk organo-kimia untuk pemupukan bibit kelapa sawit Organo-chemical fertilizer for oil palm seedling fertilization

2016 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laksmita Prima SANTI ◽  
Didiek Hadjar GOENADI
Keyword(s):  
Humic Acid ◽  
Oil Palm ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Chemical Fertilizer ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Standard Dosage ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Economic Production ◽  
Consistent Support

SummaryThe availability of high quality and quantity of oil palm seedling needs consistent support of fertilization programs for economic production.  Organo-chemical fertilizer with rock phosphate and urea added was initiated to increased economic value of agriculture and estate crops residues. The prototype of organo-chemical fertilizer has 10% organic C, 11% N, 8% P, 1% K and 4% humic acid respectively. Based on greenhouse experiments, organo-chemical fertilizer treated to oil palm seedlings tends to provide a better vegetative growth of the seedlings.  Dry weights of leave, stem, and root of the seedlings applied with 100 g organo-chemical  fertilizer plus 10 g KCl to each seedling were significantly different compared to the standard dosage conventional fertilizer. This organo-chemical fertilizer could be applied as conventional fertilizer substitute.Ringkasan        Ketersediaan bibit kelapa sawit ber-kualitas dengan kuantitas yang terus meningkat memerlukan dukungan program pemupukan yang konsisten untuk mencapai tingkat produksi yang ekonomis.  Pembuatan pupuk organo-kimia dengan penambahan  batuan fosfat dan N ditujukan untuk meningkatkan nilai ekonomi limbah pertanian dan perkebunan.  Prototipe pupuk organo-kimia ini mengandung 10% C-organik, 11% N, 8% P, 1% K dan 4% asam humik.  Pemberian 100 g pupuk organo-kimia yang ditambah 10 g KCl per bibit menghasilkan berat kering daun, batang, dan akar yang lebih baik dan berbeda nyata apabila dibandingkan dengan peng-gunaan pupuk konvensional dosis standar.  Berdasarkan hasil tersebut, prototipe pupuk organo-kimia ini dapat digunakan sebagai substitusi pupuk konvensional untuk pemupuk-an bibit kelapa sawit.    

scholarly journals Learning of a mimic odor combined with nectar nonsugar compounds enhances honeybee pollination of a commercial crop

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cecilia Estravis-Barcala ◽  
Florencia Palottini ◽  
Walter M. Farina
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Floral Scent ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Hybrid Seed Production ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Floral Odor ◽  
Commercial Crop ◽  
Increasing Demand

AbstractThe increasing demand on pollination services leads food industry to consider new strategies for management of pollinators to improve their efficiency in agroecosystems. Recently, it was demonstrated that feeding beehives food scented with an odorant mixture mimicking the floral scent of a crop (sunflower mimic, SM) enhanced foraging activity and improved recruitment to the target inflorescences, which led to higher density of bees on the crop and significantly increased yields. Besides, the oral administration of nonsugar compounds (NSC) naturally found in nectars (caffeine and arginine) improved short and long-term olfactory memory retention in conditioned bees under laboratory conditions. To test the effect of offering of SM-scented food supplemented with NSC on honeybees pollinating sunflower for hybrid seed production, in a commercial plantation we fed colonies SM-scented food (control), and SM-scented food supplemented with either caffeine, arginine, or a mixture of both, in field realistic concentrations. Their foraging activity was assessed at the hive and on the crop up to 90 h after treatment, and sunflower yield was estimated prior to harvest. Our field results show that SM + Mix-treated colonies exhibited the highest incoming rates and densities on the crop. Additionally, overall seed mass was significantly higher by 20% on inflorescences close to these colonies than control colonies. Such results suggest that combined NSC potentiate olfactory learning of a mimic floral odor inside the hive, promoting faster colony-level foraging responses and increasing crop production.

scholarly journals Economic valuation and mapping of Ecosystem Services in the context of protected area management (Natural Park of Serra de São Mamede, Portugal)

One Ecosystem ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Marta-Pedroso ◽  
Lia Laporta ◽  
Ivo Gama ◽  
Tiago Domingos
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Market Price ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Natural Park

Demonstrating economic benefits generated by protected areas is often pointed out as pivotal for supporting decision-making. We argue in this paper that the concept of ecosystem services (ES), defined as the benefits humans derive from ecosystems, provides a consistent framework to approach this issue as it links ecosystem functioning and benefits, including benefits with economic value. This study aimed at providing evidence on how to bring the economic value of protected areas to the decision-making process and contributing to extend current EU Member States' experience in mapping and assessing the economic value of ES in the context of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (Action 5). In doing so, we used the Natural Park of Serra de S. Mamede (PNSSM), located in the Alentejo NUTS II region, as a case study. We followed a three-step approach to pursue our goals, entailing stakeholders' engagement for selecting relevant ES (through a participatory workshop), biophysical mapping of ES flows (based on a multi-tiered approach depending on data availability) and spatial economic estimation of such flows (using value transfer, willingness-to-pay and market price methods). Our results indicate that the ES with highest economic value are not always the ones with higher perceived value by stakeholders. For most ES, the economic value increased with increasing protection level within the park, except for the crop production service. Although no formal uncertainty or sensitivity analysis has been performed, the following range is based on a critical assessment of non-primary data used. We estimated the aggregate annual value of PNSSM to be 11 to 33M€/year (representing 0.1 to 0.3% of the regional NUTSII Alentejo Gross Domestic Product). Our findings reinforce the need to adopt mixes of monetary and non-monetary valuation processes and not to rely just on one approach or measure of value while bringing ES into protected areas management.

scholarly journals The need for coordinated transdisciplinary research infrastructures for pollinator conservation and crop pollination resilience

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignasi Bartomeus ◽  
Lynn Dicks
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Transdisciplinary Research ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Pollinator Decline ◽  
The Public ◽  
Research Infrastructures ◽  
Pollinator Conservation ◽  
The Status ◽  
Agricultural Areas ◽  
Pollinator Declines

There is a growing concern about the status and trends of animal pollinators worldwide. Pollinators provide a key service to both wild plants and crops by mediating their reproduction, so pollinator conservation is of fundamental importance to conservation and to food production. Understanding of the extent of pollinator declines is constrained by the paucity of accessible data, which leads to geographically- and taxonomically-biased assessments. In addition, land conversion to agriculture and intensive agricultural management are two of the main threats to pollinators. This is paradoxical, as crop production depends on pollinators to maximize productivity. There is a need to reconcile conservation and ecosystem service provision in agroecosystems. These challenges require coordinated transdisciplinary research infrastructures. Specifically, we need better research infrastructures to (i) describe pollinator decline patterns worldwide, (ii) monitor current pollinator trends, and (iii) understand how to enhance pollinators and pollination in agroecosystems. This can be achieved, first, by redoubling the efforts to make historical occurrence data on species occurrences, interactions and traits openly available and easy to integrate across databases. Second, by empowering citizen science to monitor key pollinator species in a coordinated way and standardizing and consolidating long term collection protocols both in natural and agricultural areas. Finally, there is a need to develop multi-actor, localised research infrastructures allowing integration of social, economic and ecological approaches in agriculture. We illustrate how decentralized infrastructures can accelerate the process of co-producing research and integrating data collection across scientists, managers, members of the public, farmers and disciplines. The time is ripe to harness the power of coordinated research infrastructures to understand and mitigate pollinator declines.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 749-763
Author(s):  
A.V. Shelenok ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Agricultural Crops ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Slow Development ◽  
Organic Products ◽  
The World

The article examines intensive and organic technologies for growing agricultural crops, their impact on the environment, human health, indicates what are the advantages and disadvantages of organic agriculture. It is noted that with intensive technologies for growing agricultural crops, their yield increases, but if the doses of chemicals are not observed, soil fertility is disturbed, the environment is polluted. Devoid of the disadvantages inherent in intensive technologies, organic farming is significantly inferior in productivity to it, due to which it is not able to reach the same production volumes, to ensure a comparable level of domestic consumption, which is demonstrated by traditional farming. The article compares the effectiveness of traditional and organic agronomic farming systems. It is shown that in the case of comparability of yield indicators, traditional technologies at lower selling prices are more effective in terms of profit and profitability indicators. The reasons for the slow development of the organic segment in the agricultural production of Russia are revealed. In this regard, the topic of support for foreign and Russian agricultural producers, including organic products, as well as the underdevelopment of its domestic market is touched upon. It is noted that, in contrast to developed countries, Russia’s share in the world market for organic products is insignificant. Therefore, it is too early to talk about the prospects for the development of organic agriculture in Russia. In the world, organic farming is stimulated, it occupies its own niche, but in all respects it lags far behind the traditional method of growing agricultural products. Its share in the world food market ranges from 2.6 to 3%.

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