Are Consumers Interested in Ornamental Plants That Benefit Pollinator Insects?

Abstract

Population declines among bees, butterflies, and other pollinator insects are very worrying because 70% of the world’s food crop production depends upon these tiny insect workers. Fortunately, ninety million US households have yards, landscapes, or gardens that can enhance pollinator habitat and health. Consumers’ actions can drastically impact pollinator insects and even help them to recover. This 5-page fact sheet describes a new UF/IFAS study of consumers’ actions and perceptions as they considered ornamental plants that benefit pollinators. It covers consumers’ current actions to aid pollinators, their interest in purchasing plants to help pollinators, and their perceptions about plant availability, and it describes strategies for merchants and producers to cater to consumer preferences for in-store communications/promotions and help them to find and purchase plants that aid pollinator insects. Written by Hayk Khachatryan and Alicia Rihn, and published by the UF Department of Food and Resource Economics, October 2016. FE997/FE997: Are consumers interested in ornamental plants that benefit pollinator insects? (ufl.edu)