Pollinators, including honeybees and native insects like moths, beetles, and hoverflies, play a crucial role in the health of ecosystems as well as agriculture. Globally, these creatures pollinate 75 percent of flowering plants and in addition, 35 percent of the world's food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. Due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, pollinator populations are in decline, threatening food security and ecological resilience.
What can be done to stop this decline? Research has shown that minimizing the use of certain pesticides, incorporating alternative forms of pest control, and adopting a range of specific application practices can reduce pollinator exposure to pesticides. In addition to using such integrated pest management (IPM) practices, farmers can support biodiversity conservation and habitat management to create and maintain environments where pollinators can thrive.
Pollinator health policies
In response to the decline of pollinators and as part of their commitment to protect and restore natural resources upon which their supply chains depend, several U.S. retailers have created policies to promote pollinator health. Starting this year, Walmart U.S. will source 100 percent of the fresh produce and floral it sells in their in-store produce departments from suppliers that adopt IPM practices, as verified by a third party. Some other U.S. retailers seeking IPM certification to support their pollinator health policies include Giant Eagle, Kroger, Meijer, Southeastern Grocers and Whole Foods Market.
"The threat of pollinator decline to agriculture has captured the attention of retailers in the U.S.," says Roberta Anderson, President of GLOBALG.A.P. North America Inc. In addition to fruits and vegetables, some retailers include cut flowers and potted plants in their new supplier requirements for IPM certification. GLOBALG.A.P.'s flagship Integrated Farm Assurance (IFA) is one of the certifications recognized for covering IPM, enabling suppliers to comply with retailers' supplier requirements.
"With retailers advancing in this direction, the whole industry is motivated to adopt and improve upon integrated pest management practices," commented Anderson. She asserts that certification is not only a way to comply with new requirements, but the formalization of an IPM program and annual audit also encourages continuous improvement. IPM is already part of the GLOBALG.A.P. IFA standard. The standard also has a biodiversity component that addresses habitat considerations. In version 6 of the organization's IFA standard, the requirements for both IPM and biodiversity were enhanced, reflecting movement in the industry.
For more information:
Roberta Anderson
President
GLOBALG.A.P. North America Inc.
Tel: +1 509-289-7071
[email protected]
www.globalgap.org