It is a widely known fact that pollinator populations have been in freefall in recent decades, with environmental organisations Friends of the Earth claiming that nearly one in 10 of Europe’s wild bee species are facing extinction.
But while it can be easy for some to turn a blind eye to the impact this is having on the environment, new research points to the decline now having a tangible effect on humanity.
A study published from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in December 2022 found that inadequate pollination is leading to as much as a 5% loss of fruit, vegetable and nut production.
As a result, there are an estimated 427,000 excess deaths annually from lost healthy food consumption and associated diseases such as stroke, diabetes and certain cancers.
The situation for both pollinators and humans is reaching critical levels.
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