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Emerging threats and opportunities to managed bee species in European agricultural systems : a horizon scan

Willcox, Bryony K. ; Potts, Simon G. ; Brown, Mark J.F. ; Alix, Anne ; Al Naggar, Yahya ; Chauzat, Marie Pierre ; Costa, Cecilia ; Gekière, Antoine ; Hartfield, Chris and Hatjina, Fani , et al. (2023) In Scientific Reports 13.
Abstract

Managed bee species provide essential pollination services that contribute to food security worldwide. However, managed bees face a diverse array of threats and anticipating these, and potential opportunities to reduce risks, is essential for the sustainable management of pollination services. We conducted a horizon scanning exercise with 20 experts from across Europe to identify emerging threats and opportunities for managed bees in European agricultural systems. An initial 63 issues were identified, and this was shortlisted to 21 issues through the horizon scanning process. These ranged from local landscape-level management to geopolitical issues on a continental and global scale across seven broad themes—Pesticides & pollutants,... (More)

Managed bee species provide essential pollination services that contribute to food security worldwide. However, managed bees face a diverse array of threats and anticipating these, and potential opportunities to reduce risks, is essential for the sustainable management of pollination services. We conducted a horizon scanning exercise with 20 experts from across Europe to identify emerging threats and opportunities for managed bees in European agricultural systems. An initial 63 issues were identified, and this was shortlisted to 21 issues through the horizon scanning process. These ranged from local landscape-level management to geopolitical issues on a continental and global scale across seven broad themes—Pesticides & pollutants, Technology, Management practices, Predators & parasites, Environmental stressors, Crop modification, and Political & trade influences. While we conducted this horizon scan within a European context, the opportunities and threats identified will likely be relevant to other regions. A renewed research and policy focus, especially on the highest-ranking issues, is required to maximise the value of these opportunities and mitigate threats to maintain sustainable and healthy managed bee pollinators within agricultural systems.

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@article{4697249a-fa15-4db7-acc6-14465357e1af,
  abstract     = {{<p>Managed bee species provide essential pollination services that contribute to food security worldwide. However, managed bees face a diverse array of threats and anticipating these, and potential opportunities to reduce risks, is essential for the sustainable management of pollination services. We conducted a horizon scanning exercise with 20 experts from across Europe to identify emerging threats and opportunities for managed bees in European agricultural systems. An initial 63 issues were identified, and this was shortlisted to 21 issues through the horizon scanning process. These ranged from local landscape-level management to geopolitical issues on a continental and global scale across seven broad themes—Pesticides &amp; pollutants, Technology, Management practices, Predators &amp; parasites, Environmental stressors, Crop modification, and Political &amp; trade influences. While we conducted this horizon scan within a European context, the opportunities and threats identified will likely be relevant to other regions. A renewed research and policy focus, especially on the highest-ranking issues, is required to maximise the value of these opportunities and mitigate threats to maintain sustainable and healthy managed bee pollinators within agricultural systems.</p>}},
  author       = {{Willcox, Bryony K. and Potts, Simon G. and Brown, Mark J.F. and Alix, Anne and Al Naggar, Yahya and Chauzat, Marie Pierre and Costa, Cecilia and Gekière, Antoine and Hartfield, Chris and Hatjina, Fani and Knapp, Jessica L. and Martínez-López, Vicente and Maus, Christian and Metodiev, Teodor and Nazzi, Francesco and Osterman, Julia and Raimets, Risto and Strobl, Verena and Van Oystaeyen, Annette and Wintermantel, Dimitry and Yovcheva, Nikol and Senapathi, Deepa}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Emerging threats and opportunities to managed bee species in European agricultural systems : a horizon scan}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45279-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-023-45279-w}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}