Not only are coffee and cocoa plants threatened by drought and diseases, but the sharp decline in insect pollinators is also causing serious problems.
The future of coffee and chocolate has not been certain for years. This is partly due to the changing climate. What also doesn’t help is that coffee plants are very sensitive to a fungal disease that affects many coffee plantations in Central and South America and causes coffee plant rust. Cocoa trees are in turn attacked by the Cacao Swollen-Shoot Virus (CSSV for short), which spread rapidly in West Africa a few years ago. And as if all that wasn’t bad enough, the situation is now becoming even more dire. Because the sharp decline in insects risks making our beloved cups of coffee and delicious chocolate bars even more difficult to obtain.
The importance of insect pollinators for the coffee and cocoa industries
Insect pollinators play a crucial role in the production of coffee and cocoa. Coffee and cocoa plants depend on pollination to reproduce and produce fruit. Insects such as bees and butterflies carry pollen from one flower to another, causing fertilization to occur. This process is essential for developing the coffee cherries and cocoa pods from which coffee beans and cocoa beans are harvested.
In a new study a research team focused on the complex relationship between climate change, land use changes and their impact on the diversity of pollinating insects. These dynamics ultimately have major consequences for the pollination of crops worldwide.
Study
To find out more, the researchers collected information from 1,507 locations around the world where crops are grown. They also collected data from no fewer than 3,080 different insect pollinators. The study’s results point to a troubling development: the combination of climate change and agricultural practices has led to significant declines in both the number and diversity of insect pollinators. And that has far-reaching consequences. “If insects disappear because they cannot cope with the combined effects of climate change and land use changes, the crops that depend on these insects for pollination will also decline,” said researcher Joe Millard.
Tropics
It is a worrying discovery. Especially when you consider that approximately 75 percent of all crops are dependent on animal pollination to some extent. The researchers then analyzed which crops are most at risk in which areas. “Our research shows that crops in tropical regions are in the most trouble,” says Millard. This mainly concerns areas in Southeast Asia, northern South America and Sub-Saharan Africa, where temperatures are currently increasing enormously.
Coffee and chocolate
Which tropical crops are involved exactly? This included coffee and cocoa, but also mango and watermelon, the researchers discovered. And that not only means that scarcity can arise, which in turn can affect prices. These plants are also essential for both local economies and global trade. As their yields decline, many small farmers in these regions face uncertainty about their income.
Reasons
There are several reasons why these crops are at risk. For example, it is common knowledge that growing cocoa trees is a challenge. These trees have short-lived flowers that are almost only pollinated by a specific species of mosquito. The problem is that the shady and moist environments that this mosquito prefers are becoming increasingly rare. In addition, global warming affects the size of butterflies. Some species grow larger while others shrink. This affects their ability to fly and reach the plants they depend on. Moreover, these butterflies regularly die on extremely hot days. Moreover, many insects cannot withstand extreme heat. For example, many bees and hoverflies have hairs that hold pollen, but these hairs also retain heat. This means that these insects cannot handle higher temperatures well.
Connected
The study clearly shows that insect pollinators play an essential role in maintaining the production and availability of coffee and chocolate. As the world grapples with the complex challenges of climate change, land use changes and the loss of diversity in plant and animal species, this study serves as an important reminder of how everything in nature is connected. It also highlights the vital role pollinators play in sustaining agriculture and food security.
Measures
Fortunately, we can do something to turn the tide. One possible approach is to grow plots of land with natural habitats amid agricultural land. These areas can serve as a safe place for pollinating insects and can help make conditions (the microclimate) more favorable. “There are also other solutions that can help,” says Millard. “For example, it is possible to develop new plant varieties that can reproduce themselves without the help of pollinators, just as is already the case with some crops. There are also technological solutions, such as manual pollination or artificial methods, which are already widely used in certain crops, such as vanilla. These methods can be used to compensate for declining pollinators, but they will increase the costs of production.”
But ultimately, it’s best to tackle the problem at the source. “Climate change poses a serious threat not only to nature and the diversity of plants and animals, but also to human well-being,” underlines researcher Tim Newbold. “This is because the disappearance of pollinating insects could threaten the livelihoods of people around the world, especially those who rely on crops that require insect pollination. Our findings underscore the urgent need for global action to combat climate change, along with efforts to slow land-use change and protect natural habitats. Only in this way can we prevent a further decline in pollinating insects.”
2023-10-13 15:03:07
#Scientists #warn #danger #threatens #cup #coffee #delicious #bar #chocolate
