We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Moving beyond the known: Identifying conceptual gaps, emerging threats, and novel opportunities for global pollinator conservation
AI summary Read the abstract
Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are declining not just from well-known problems like pesticides and habitat loss, but also from newer threats scientists are just starting to track—including microplastics, artificial light at night, and heavy metal pollution. This matters because pollinators support roughly a third of the food we eat, so protecting them (through new technology and smarter land-use planning) directly protects our food supply. The researchers, who gathered input from experts worldwide, stress that catching these emerging threats early gives us a better shot at fixing them before they cause serious damage.
As a vital component of global food security and ecosystem health, pollinators are essential for sustaining both natural systems and human populations, yet their numbers continue to decline despite extensive conservation efforts. Although well-known threats such as habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change remain serious concerns, focusing only on well-known threats could overshadow the necessity of re-orienting conservation agendas to address new pressures and opportunities created by rapidly shifting environmental, technological, and socio-political landscapes, which have yet to be fully integrated into conservation agendas. We synthesise the findings of a global rapid assessment that used expert elicitation to identify urgent emerging global threats and opportunities for pollinators. Emerging threats stemmed from diverse sources, including novel forms of pollution (such as microplastics, artificial light, heavy metals, and nitrogen oxides) and the compounding effects of well-known stressors. Conversely, significant opportunities for pollinator conservation were found in the strategic use of novel tools and technology for targeted conservation, and in solutions that benefit multiple ecosystem services through novel land uses. Further research into these key areas will allow us to act early on these findings to better protect pollinators in the future and preserve the benefits they provide for people and nature.
More Papers Like This
Plastic pollution in agricultural landscapes: an overlooked threat to pollination, biocontrol and food security
AI summary Read the abstract
This synthesis examined the largely unstudied effects of nano/microplastic pollution on pollinators and biocontrol agents—organisms that underpin agricultural productivity—finding evidence of gene expression changes, organ damage, and behavioral modifications at the organismal level. At landscape scales, MPs may amplify synergistic effects with pathogens and alter floral resource distributions, with implications for food security that are only beginning to be quantified.
Insects at the crossroads of microplastics pollution: Mechanistic insights, ecological risks, and research frontiers
AI summary Read the abstract
This review of existing research found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are harming insects by causing stress in their bodies and affecting their ability to digest food, think clearly, and reproduce. Insects also break down larger plastic pieces into even more microplastics, making the pollution problem worse. This matters because insects are crucial for pollinating our food crops and keeping ecosystems healthy, so plastic pollution could threaten our food supply.
Nano/micro-plastics effects in agricultural landscapes: an overlooked threat to pollination, biological pest control, and food security
AI summary Read the abstract
This review synthesized evidence on nano/microplastic (NMP) effects on pollinators and biocontrol agents at organismal, farm, and landscape scales, finding that ingested NMP cause gene expression changes, organ damage, and behavioral modifications. The authors identify NMP-polluted 'NMP islands' as potential hotspots that may alter floral resource distributions and amplify synergistic threats with pathogens and antibiotics to agricultural ecosystem services.
Towards pollinator stewardship in all policies: Policy incoherence in the EU is a major barrier to pollinator restoration
AI summary Read the abstract
Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators—which are essential for growing much of our food—are declining across Europe, and this research paper (a joint report from multiple scientific research teams) argues that confusing, conflicting government policies are making the problem worse instead of better. Things like pesticide rules, farming subsidies, and chemical regulations often work against each other rather than protecting pollinators, which puts our food supply, nutrition, and even things like medicines and cosmetics that depend on pollinated plants at risk. The paper calls for countries to coordinate their policies better, reduce harmful chemicals and microplastic pollution,
Towards pollinator stewardship in all policies: Policy incoherence in the EU is a major barrier to pollinator restoration
AI summary Read the abstract
Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators—essential for growing much of our food—are declining across Europe, and this report finds that confusing, contradictory EU policies (on farming, chemicals, and land use) are actually making the problem worse instead of fixing it. This matters for everyone's dinner table: without healthy pollinator populations, we risk shortages and higher prices for fruits, vegetables, and nuts, plus broader harm to food security and the economy. The researchers call for the EU to reduce pesticide and chemical exposure (including microplastics), restore natural habitats, and coordinate policies across sectors so poll
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.