The Honeybee Forage Project This project is funded by the Working for Water Programme and is being implemented by scientists at SANBI’s Applied Biodiversity Research Division, assisted by the Agricultural Research Council. The project runs from 2011 until the end of 2013. Commercial crop growers are becoming increasingly reliant on managed honeybee pollination services and beekeepers. Beekeepers rely on numerous, and at times controversial, forage sources. This project aims to contribute to the knowledge base of forage resources and their management. The Global Pollination Project This Global Environmental Facility (GEF) project is implemented through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and executed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in coordination with the governments of seven project partner countries: Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa. it is being implemented by SANBI, and runs until the end of 2013. The project will conduct scientific research in three agricultural crops: apples, onion seed and sunflowers. Each crop is highly dependent on insect pollination, and most of the farmers rely on managed honeybees to ensure adequate pollination. The project will investigate the best management practices that will conserve pollinators, and will build capacity and raise awareness about pollination services in the agricultural context. Mbulelo Mswazi Site Manager, Global Pollination Project Applied Biodiversity Research Division South African National Biodiversity Institute [email protected] Crop Agriculture, Pollination and the Honeybee Biodiversity for Life SANBI Did you know? Our key research areas: • About one-third of crops that feed the world rely on pollination by insects or other animals to produce healthy fruits and seeds. • Globally, honeybees are the most important pollinator of commercial pollinator-dependant crops – with at least 90% of these crops reliant on honeybee services. • In Europe and North America, mounting evidence points to a “pollination crisis”with declines in populations of wild pollinators, and significant losses of managed honeybee colonies. • In SA, our indigenous honeybee species, Apis mellifera (with two sub- species), is also facing increased threats from diseases, parasites and loss of forage habitat. • The status and trends of pollinators in SA – long-term monitoring of diversity and abundance. • Pollination deficits in targeted crops in SA – diversity and density of pollinators; agronomic and economic yields. • The reliance of commercial pollinator-dependent agriculture in SA on managed honeybees. • Current national forage use by beekeepers for managed bees in SA, and the quantity and quality of available forage. • The importance of conflict forage species (such as Eucalyptus species, which fall under invasive species-removal programmes), the impact of their removal, and possible substitutions. • Agricultural and honeybee management practices relating to the conservation of pollination services.
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The Honeybee Forage ProjectThis project is funded by the Working for Water Programme and is being implemented by scientists at SANBI’s Applied Biodiversity Research Division, assisted by the Agricultural Research Council. The project runs from 2011 until the end of 2013.
Commercial crop growers are becoming increasingly reliant on managed honeybee pollination services and beekeepers. Beekeepers rely on numerous, and at times controversial, forage sources. This project aims to contribute to the knowledge base of forage resources and their management.
The Global Pollination ProjectThis Global Environmental Facility (GEF) project is implemented through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and executed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in coordination with the governments of seven project partner countries: Brazil, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan and South Africa. it is being implemented by SANBI, and runs until the end of 2013.
The project will conduct scientific research in three agricultural crops: apples, onion seed and sunflowers. Each crop is highly dependent on insect pollination, and most of the farmers rely on managed honeybees to ensure adequate pollination. The project will investigate the best management practices that will conserve pollinators, and will build capacity and raise awareness about pollination services in the agricultural context.
Mbulelo MswaziSite Manager, Global Pollination Project Applied Biodiversity Research Division South African National Biodiversity [email protected]
Crop Agriculture, Pollination and the Honeybee
Biodiversity for LifeSANBI
Did you know? Our key research areas:•About one-third of crops that feed the world rely on pollination by insects
or other animals to produce healthy fruits and seeds.
•Globally, honeybees are the most important pollinator of commercial pollinator-dependant crops – with at least 90% of these crops reliant on honeybee services.
• In Europe and North America, mounting evidence points to a “pollination crisis” with declines in populations of wild pollinators, and significant losses of managed honeybee colonies.
• In SA, our indigenous honeybee species, Apis mellifera (with two sub-species), is also facing increased threats from diseases, parasites and loss of forage habitat.
•The status and trends of pollinators in SA – long-term monitoring of diversity and abundance.
•Pollination deficits in targeted crops in SA – diversity and density of pollinators; agronomic and economic yields.
•The reliance of commercial pollinator-dependent agriculture in SA on managed honeybees.
•Current national forage use by beekeepers for managed bees in SA, and the quantity and quality of available forage.
•The importance of conflict forage species (such as Eucalyptus species, which fall under invasive species-removal programmes), the impact of their removal, and possible substitutions.
•Agricultural and honeybee management practices relating to the conservation of pollination services.
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