Researchers from two of France’s leading research institutes have demonstrated for the first time that bee pollination outstrips pesticide use in the yield and profitability of oilseed rape crops. “This new study suggests that agroecology, which promotes nature-based solutions for agricultural production, can be an alternative ‘win-win’ model that ensures agricultural production, incomes for farmers, and environmental protection,” says INRA.
Researchers from INRA (France’s National Institute for Agricultural Research) and CNRS (France’s National Centre for Scientific Research) analysed data collected over four years in farmers’ fields in the Deux-Sèvres area of western France. Their findings have been published in Proceedings of the Royal Society London B.
The INRA website notes the challenge of reducing chemical inputs without affecting farmers’ yields and incomes. It identifies sustainable agroecology as an option, maximising natural capital and ecosystem functions as a replacement for agrochemicals, while minimising yield reductions and increasing farm profitability.
INRA adds that there is evidence that crops dependent on pollinators, such as rape and sunflower, produce higher yields when there is a high density of pollinators, especially bees. However, it says, in conventional agricultural fields pesticide use has direct and indirect effects on pollinators. “Although pollination is one of the most evaluated services, the effects of the interactions between pollination and the use of pesticides on yields and farmers’ incomes have never been studied,” it explains.
“The scientists quantified the individual and combined effects of pesticides, insect pollination, and soil quality on oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) yield and gross margins on a sample size of 85 to 294 fields in the Zone Atelier ‘Plaine & Val de Sèvre’ from 2013 to 2016,” says INRA.
“The study revealed an increase in yield and gross margin (on average 15%, €119/ha, and up to 40%, €289/ha) in fields with maximum pollinator abundance compared to fields with virtually no pollinators. However, this effect is greatly reduced by the use of pesticides.
“Analyses of the effects of pesticides (herbicides and insecticides) on the one hand, and pollination by bees on the other hand, show that both strategies can achieve high yields, but only pollination by bees can lead to higher economic income. This is due to the lack of costs of nature-based solutions compared to pesticides, and the latter do not increase yields enough to offset their costs.”
See: Bee pollination outperforms pesticides for oilseed crop production and profitability. Rui Catarino, Vincent Bretagnolle, Thomas Perrot, Fabien Vialloux & Sabrina Gaba, Proceedings of the Royal Society London B - 9 October 2019 https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.1550
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