Good news?

This article in Nature reports some interesting findings from a recent study by Alexandra Klein at the University of California, Berkeley, regarding pollinator declines. The report shows that agriculture is not affected by the shrinking population of bees and key insects.

The article goes on to say that some think that the pollinator crisis is overplayed. Other data shows mixed responses and the author of the article, Anna Petherick, reminds that:

"Klein says her findings do not necessarily negate that idea that the world is in the throes of a pollination crisis. The data might hide how farmers have adapted to the problem, she suggests. For example, in almond pollination, many growers move honeybees into their orchards and use pheromones to stimulate foraging activity, she says. Some even place compatible pollen in the bees' hives so that they transport it to the desired variety of almond. And many passion-fruit growers in Brazil now pollinate crops by hand."

(photo from Nature: Punchstock)