Global Loss of Pollinators Causes Premature Deaths

500’000 Premature Deaths Per Year

The decline of insects means lower yields of healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables and more disease in humans.

The global loss of pollinators is already leading to 500’000 premature deaths per year by reducing the supply of healthy food, according to a study.

Three quarters of all crops require pollination, but the populations of many insects are in sharp decline. The resulting inadequate pollination has led to a loss of 3 to 5% in fruit, vegetable and nut production. The reduced consumption of these foods means that approximately 1% of all deaths can be attributed to the loss of pollinators.

The researchers took into account deaths from heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain cancers, all of which can be reduced through a healthier diet The study is the first to quantify the impact of the shortage of wild pollinators on human health.

Pollinator-Friendly Practices as a Solution

«A crucial point that was missing from the discussion on biodiversity was the absence of a direct link to human health,» said Dr. Samuel Myers of the TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University and lead author of the study. «This research shows that the loss of pollinators is already having health impacts comparable to other global health risk factors.»

«But there is a solution in the form of pollinator-friendly practices», said Myers. These include increasing floral diversity on agricultural farms, reducing the use of pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, and conserving or restoring nearby natural habitats.

Yield losses in low-income countries

In the study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives dozens of plants dependent on pollinators were examined. It was found that inadequate pollination is responsible for approximately one quarter of the differences between high and low yields.

The researchers estimated that the world is currently losing 4.7% of total fruit production, 3.2% of vegetables and 4.7% of nuts. The greatest health impacts are in middle-income countries such as China, India, Russia and Indonesia, where heart disease and strokes due to poor nutrition are already widespread.

The estimated number of deaths is conservative, the scientists noted, as the study did not account for the effects of the decline in micronutrients such as vitamin A and folic acid, nor the health consequences of income losses for farmers.

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