Episode 10: Strategic partnership in the field?

15.12.2022

„I always tell the farmers: If you want the beneficial insects to help you when things get tough, you have to help them at times when they would otherwise starve. They can't be there just because the pest is there now, they have to be there all the time. “
Prof. Bärbel Gerowitt, University of Rostock

Scientific evidence on the decline of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes has been available for a long time. But it was not until a publication of data by the Krefeld Entomological Society in 2017 that awareness of the alarming situation arose in politics and society. Since then, science-based solutions have been sought to put a stop to insect mortality. Under the leadership of the Thünen Institute for Biodiversity, the nationwide Monitoring of Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes (MonViA) is being established on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, among others. So far, there have only been individual studies, from which, however, developments can only be read to a limited extent.

In addition, the researchers are establishing a nationwide monitoring of wild bees in agricultural landscapes. Pollinators such as bees and bumblebees are among the best-known and most important insects. After all, two-thirds of the world's crops - especially fruit and vegetables - are pollinated by such insects. They are an important factor for the quantity of the crop, but also for the quality of the products produced. But the diversity of insects in agricultural landscapes is considerably greater and each species plays an essential role in the fabric of nature. For every pest there is a beneficial insect: spiders and predatory insects keep pests in check, soil organisms ensure soil fertility. These groups in particular are highly dependent on the way landscape is designed and agriculture is practiced. Flower strips, agroforestry systems, hedges, orchards and grasslands are therefore not only nice to look at, but essential for the continuation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.

In this episode, Rostock professor Bärbel Gerowitt, an expert in plant protection, among other things, and Professor Jens Dauber, head of the Thünen Institute for Biodiversity, talk about beneficial insects and pests and why these man-made categories are not always helpful. It is about habitats, landscape design and the ecosystem services of insects. And, of course, the question of why agricultural landscapes are not per se hostile spaces for insects and how they can be integrated into agricultural production.