LIVING SYSTEMS INTELLIGENCE
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IPBES Assessment on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production

https://www.ipbes.net
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Organisation
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Year
2016
Type
Scientific Assessment
Reliability
High

Landmark intergovernmental assessment of pollinators and their role in food production.

Used for
Pollination claims · Pollinator decline drivers
Claims supported (9)

The western honey bee performs pollination, transferring pollen that fertilises many flowering plants.

Data gapsRelative contribution varies by crop and region.
Last reviewed 2026-06-08

Honey bee colonies depend on diverse floral resources and habitat for forage.

Data gapsForage availability not yet mapped by region.

Honey bee health can be weakened by pesticide exposure, disease and habitat loss.

Data gapsRelative weight of each driver remains uncertain.

Pollination supports the reproduction of many wild flowering plants.

Pollination supports crop production for a substantial share of food crops.

Data gapsExact share depends on crop mix and measurement method.

Pollination depends on pollinators such as bees and other insects.

The food system depends in part on pollination through crop production.

Data gapsQuantitative dependency strength not yet modelled.

Pesticide use can reduce pollinator health and abundance.

Data gapsField and laboratory effect sizes differ.

Pollinator decline can weaken the pollination that crops rely on.

Related nodes
Related dependency relationships
DEP_FOOD_POLLINATION