The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today opened the first Global Pollinator Conference, calling for stronger international action to protect pollinators and the essential role they play in food production, biodiversity and rural livelihoods.
Opening the Conference at FAO headquarters in Rome, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu stressed that pollinators are fundamental to agrifood systems, their restoration, the foods people eat and the environment they live in.
"About 75 percent of the world's most important food crops rely on pollination for the quantity, quality and diversity of our foods," Qu said.
Pollinators are essential not only to food production, but also to biodiversity, food security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers and consumers. Yet they are facing growing threats from habitat loss, the climate crisis, invasive species, diseases and unsustainable agricultural practices.
Addressing these pressures will require moving beyond international commitments to "concrete actions leading to tangible results on the ground," the Director-General said.
Towards a Global Pollinator Platform
FAO Members, through the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, have provided a clear mandate to work towards establishing a Global Pollinator Platform to strengthen coordinated global action on pollinator conservation and sustainable management.
The proposed Platform would help connect existing initiatives, facilitate knowledge exchange, promote innovation and reinforce action at national level. It would build on years of work by FAO, its members and partners, to strengthen scientific knowledge, technical guidance and capacity, including through support to the International Pollinator Initiative under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The first Global Pollinator Conference represents an important step in that process. Discussions will also examine locally led action and the role of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, farmers, women and youth in safeguarding pollinators while supporting food security, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.
Investment and partnerships
Greater coordination will need to be matched by "sustained investment, stronger partnerships and practical solutions to support farmers and all the producers and of course local communities," Qu said. Governments, development partners, financial institutions, researchers, civil society and the private sector all have a role to play in mobilizing the resources and expertise needed to advance pollinator conservation and sustainable management.
FAO will continue working with Members and partners to advance this work, drawing on existing initiatives and experience to support action at country level.
The Conference also recognizes the leadership of the Government of Slovenia in championing pollinator conservation globally and advancing international cooperation in this area.
Among those contributing to the opening session were Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, and Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, both by video message, as well as Bertie Gregory, National Geographic Explorer and wildlife filmmaker.
The Global Pollinator Conference runs through 6 November at FAO headquarters in Rome.
