Pollinators are crucial to ecosystem functioning and the maintenance of biodiversity, food security and public health. Nearly 90% of the world's wild flowering plants and more than 70% of crops grown for human consumption are at least partially dependent on pollinators. Recent decades have seen a global decline in wild bees and unsustainable losses of honeybee colonies. The situation of wild bees is particularly worrying in many regions of the world.
The project "Beenergia" involves laboratory and field experiments using experimental, observational and modelling approaches to assess the impact of managed bees on wild bee reproduction and population dynamics, and the impact and evolutionary consequences of pathogen transmission between species. We will combine experimental and genomic studies to implement and test mitigation measures, involving stakeholders who will be invited to evaluate and co-develop solutions.
Socioeconomic analysis and stakeholder engagement
