A new study finds specialty crop production nationwide could expand with more pollinators.
Researchers say many crops are “pollination-limited” or could have higher production if flowers had more pollination including apples, sweet and tart cherries, and blueberries. Researchers also found wild bees and honey bees provided similar amounts of pollination to most crops, except almonds.
They say pollinator declines directly translate into decreased yields and adopting practices that enhance pollinator habitat for wild bees or using managed pollinators other than honey bees is likely to increase yields as well as additional investment in honey bee colonies.
