How can we enhance crops with flowers to increase pollination services and stop bee decline?

Abstract

Pollinator populations and diversity are experiencing a dramatic global decline. As a result, the pollination of many crops around the world is threatened. Several empirical studies have shown that the addition of flower patches adjacent to crops can (1) increase crop pollination services and (2) prevent declines in pollinator abundance and diversity. Despite the empirical evidence, the economic profitability and specific characteristics required for the flower patches remain uncertain for farmers. We review theory and experiments, and we classify flower patches into three different types: attractive, composition-complementary, and population-increase. We develop a decision-making scheme that enables us to decide when we should use each type of patch and what are the possible benefits and drawbacks, depending on the characteristics of the crop and surrounding environment. Our work provides guidance to policy makers and consultants working with land managers on how to increase crop pollination services and simultaneously contribute to more ecologically sustainable agriculture around the world.