Global decline in biodiversity of insects, especially pollinators, a serious threat to human food security in the coming decades

Author

Honeybee department, Animal Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization of Iran

Abstract

Food security is one of the pillars of stability, survival and independence of the countries in the world and Sustainable production of agricultural products as the main human food in the world is considered as a strategic category in global programs of human food security. To achieve food security, the sustainable agricultural products and human food production is one of the most important goal,  has been considered in the agricultural sector in the world and in our country. Plant pollination is one of the most important factors of sustainable production in the agricultural sector. According to research, pollination is the agricultural input that has the greatest impact on increasing the yield of agricultural products worldwide.  More than a third of human food depends on honeybee pollination activity. In terms of biodiversity, according to estimates of biologists, more than 950,000 species of 1700,000 species of living organisms are insects. There are 150,000 species of hymenoptera in the world and 16,000 to 20,000 species belong to pollinating bees, which during the recent years have been significantly reduced,because of various reasons, such as reduced habitat of pollinating insects, air pollution, pesticides and chemical fertilizers, natural enemies of pollinating insects, climate change and global warming. Reducing pollinating insects will have irreversible effects on biodiversity and agricultural production in the world that's why it's so important. Various plans have been organized to prevent the decline of pollinating insects in the world. Iran has a high diversity and strong fauna of pollinating insects due to its sunshine and another ecological traits. On the other hand, the less impact of the main factors of reducing pollinators such as habitat reduction in Iran and the Middle East is also one of the advantages of our country.  Implementation of conservation agriculture principles, paying attention to the principles of protection of pollinating insects, including not using dangerous pesticides in agricultural lands, do not using illegal drugs in apiaries and prevent illegal imports and smuggling of queen and  destruction of the most valuable genetic resources of Iran, this capability can be used well