Understanding the impact of agri-environment schemes on emerging infectious diseases in pollinators
Lead Research Organisation:
National Institute of Agricultural Botany
Department Name: Centre for Research
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Planned Impact
This project will: (i) substantially enhance our understanding of the landscape of RNA viruses, both emerging and non-emerging, in wild and managed pollinators, (ii) determine the dynamics, directionality, and overall epidemiology of emerging diseases in wild and managed pollinators and test whether these are affected by agri-environment schemes, (iii) elucidate the mechanisms behind disease transmission and determine how they impact transmission at semi-field scales, and consequently (iv) provide suggestions for management of agri-environment schemes that are designed to benefit wild and commercial pollinator populations, in order to minimize the threat of emerging disease. In addition to the academic community (see 'academic beneficiaries'), we have identified 5 sectors that will benefit from this work. We aim for rapid and high impact of our results on policy for pollinator management, enhancing the UK's biodiversity and agri-economy.
1) national and international policy-makers, regulators & government
Emerging disease is a significant focus of attention for national and EU-level policy makers, e.g., the designation of notifiable diseases and requirement for health certificates prior to international bee transport. Policy makers and government will benefit from this work as it will fill a major hole in our understanding of whether and how viruses emerge across the commercial-wild pollinator divide, as well as the impact of agri-environmental schemes on this emergence. This is critical during the ongoing development and implementation in the UK of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy and the National Pollinator Strategies, as well as the development of new agri-environment schemes. Consequently, our outputs will enable the development of evidence-based policy to protect the ecosystem service of pollination.
2) land management and seed producers
Agri-environment schemes aim to improve ecosystem services and conservation. To achieve this for pollinators, seed producers that provide nectar and pollen seed mixtures and land managers need to understand how these schemes affect not only pollinator abundance and diversity, but also how they affect pollinator health. Our results will allow seed producers to optimize the seed mixtures they sell and will allow land managers to improve pollination services and pollinator conservation.
3) conservation agencies
Numerous conservation NGOs in the UK (e.g., Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Buglife, Bee Guardian Foundation, RSPB) and globally (IUCN) require a deeper understanding of the factors driving wild pollinator declines in order to devise both policy and on-the-ground management. Our research will provide the information necessary to enable such agencies to manage both floral interventions and commercial honeybees, to maximise the health of wild pollinator populations
4) commercial honeybee managers
Currently, over 40,000 honeybee colonies are managed commercially in the UK, for pollination services and honey production. Our research results will enable commercial producers to minimize both the impacts of emerging diseases spreading from managed honeybees into wild bees, and the likelihood of acquiring such diseases from the wild, which will therefore increase the value and efficiency of these important commercial pollinators.
5) publics
From specialist interest groups, such as Beekeeping Associations, through to schools and adult communities, there is a deep and abiding interest in bees and their health. Results from our work will be of broad interest to this range of public communities, enabling them to understand how science is trying to address the global problem of bee decline. Moreover, our results will have a direct and immediate role in conserving pollinators, as urban gardens are currently important refuges for these beneficial insects due to their forage availability. Our research results may directly benefit the design of bee-friendly gardening schemes
1) national and international policy-makers, regulators & government
Emerging disease is a significant focus of attention for national and EU-level policy makers, e.g., the designation of notifiable diseases and requirement for health certificates prior to international bee transport. Policy makers and government will benefit from this work as it will fill a major hole in our understanding of whether and how viruses emerge across the commercial-wild pollinator divide, as well as the impact of agri-environmental schemes on this emergence. This is critical during the ongoing development and implementation in the UK of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy and the National Pollinator Strategies, as well as the development of new agri-environment schemes. Consequently, our outputs will enable the development of evidence-based policy to protect the ecosystem service of pollination.
2) land management and seed producers
Agri-environment schemes aim to improve ecosystem services and conservation. To achieve this for pollinators, seed producers that provide nectar and pollen seed mixtures and land managers need to understand how these schemes affect not only pollinator abundance and diversity, but also how they affect pollinator health. Our results will allow seed producers to optimize the seed mixtures they sell and will allow land managers to improve pollination services and pollinator conservation.
3) conservation agencies
Numerous conservation NGOs in the UK (e.g., Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Buglife, Bee Guardian Foundation, RSPB) and globally (IUCN) require a deeper understanding of the factors driving wild pollinator declines in order to devise both policy and on-the-ground management. Our research will provide the information necessary to enable such agencies to manage both floral interventions and commercial honeybees, to maximise the health of wild pollinator populations
4) commercial honeybee managers
Currently, over 40,000 honeybee colonies are managed commercially in the UK, for pollination services and honey production. Our research results will enable commercial producers to minimize both the impacts of emerging diseases spreading from managed honeybees into wild bees, and the likelihood of acquiring such diseases from the wild, which will therefore increase the value and efficiency of these important commercial pollinators.
5) publics
From specialist interest groups, such as Beekeeping Associations, through to schools and adult communities, there is a deep and abiding interest in bees and their health. Results from our work will be of broad interest to this range of public communities, enabling them to understand how science is trying to address the global problem of bee decline. Moreover, our results will have a direct and immediate role in conserving pollinators, as urban gardens are currently important refuges for these beneficial insects due to their forage availability. Our research results may directly benefit the design of bee-friendly gardening schemes
Publications
Bailes EJ
(2020)
Host density drives viral, but not trypanosome, transmission in a key pollinator.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
Fountain MT
(2022)
Impacts of Wildflower Interventions on Beneficial Insects in Fruit Crops: A Review
in Insects
Hodgkiss D
(2022)
Detection rates of aphid DNA in the guts of larval hoverflies and potential links to the provision of floral resources.
in Bulletin of entomological research
Hodgkiss D
(2018)
Syrphine hoverflies are effective pollinators of commercial strawberry
in Journal of Pollination Ecology
Hodgkiss D
(2019)
The effect of within-crop floral resources on pollination, aphid control and fruit quality in commercial strawberry
in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Martin C
(2019)
Busier bees: increasing nest traffic in commercial bumblebee colonies
in Journal of Pollination Ecology
Martin CD
(2018)
Bumblebee olfactory learning affected by task allocation but not by a trypanosome parasite.
in Scientific reports
Martin CD
(2019)
Varietal and seasonal differences in the effects of commercial bumblebees on fruit quality in strawberry crops.
in Agriculture, ecosystems & environment
McKerchar M
(2020)
The potential for wildflower interventions to enhance natural enemies and pollinators in commercial apple orchards is limited by other management practices
in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Description | This is a duplicate on Research Fish - please see other awards for details |
Exploitation Route | Please see duplicate on Research Fish |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
Description | This is a duplicate of the award - please see other award. |
Description | Bene?tting Ecosystems through Evaluation of food Supplies for Pollination to Open up Knowledge for End users |
Amount | £73,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Department | European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 06/2023 |
Description | Enhancing the sustainability and improving quality of apple production through ecosystem service management |
Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 2441590 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2020 |
End | 09/2024 |
Description | Growing complimentary crops and nutritionally rewarding cultivars to sustain insect pollinators and crop pollination on farms |
Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Sussex |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2021 |
End | 08/2025 |
Description | Nesting resources: the missing element of sustainable crop pollination |
Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | SolitaryBeeNest2018-22_CTPWaitroseWFL Waitrose Agronomy Group BBSRC Collaborative Training Partnership |
Organisation | Waitrose Limited |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 08/2022 |
Description | Sustainable production of sweet cherry: Maximising benefits from ecosystem services |
Amount | £45,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | CherryPollinationPredationPhD2016-19Waitrose |
Organisation | Waitrose Limited |
Sector | Private |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Title | Design of a wildflower mix for strawberries |
Description | Part of EU BEESPOKE project BEESPOKE - Establishing Perennial Wildflowers Leaflef BEESPOKE - Establishing Perennial Wildflowers Leaflets DUTCH BEESPOKE Insect Identification Guide WEB BEESPOKE Insect Survey Form BEESPOKE - Common Bumblebees of the UK Leaflet BEESPOKE - Common Bumblebees of the Netherlands Leaflet Work University Gent - Pollination Maps for Agriculture (Tool 1) Work University Gent - The Added Value of Flower Strip (Tool 2) Report #2: 3 Training materials for measuring pollinators and pollination Report #3: 5 Development of validated pollination maps for the NSR Report #3: 2 Development and evaluation of protocols for measuring pollinators and pollination. Report #3: 3 Training materials for measuring pollinators and pollination |
Type Of Material | Biological samples |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Hundreds of request from growers for tools |
URL | https://northsearegion.eu/beespoke/ |
Title | Establishment of perennial wildflowers |
Description | How to establish wildflowers in a research setting and under polythene. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Advisory to growers. Set up a new experiment funded by Rivers Trusts. Gained a new Interreg Project on bespoke floral margins. |
Description | Agri-environment schemes impact on bumblebee diseases |
Organisation | Royal Holloway, University of London |
Department | School of Biological Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Attend and offer expertise at meetings. Determine how transmission of disease dynamics in bumblebees function under semi-field conditions. Supervision of PDRA and technician. |
Collaborator Contribution | Leading Objective 1: to determine the impact of agri-environment schemes on emerging disease dynamics in wild and managed pollinators. Objective 2: to determine the detailed mechanisms of transmission. |
Impact | No outputs yet - project just started. Multi-disciplinary: Genetics, animal behaviour, disease epidemiology |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Agri-environment schemes impact on bumblebee diseases |
Organisation | University of Exeter |
Department | Environment and Sustainability Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Attend and offer expertise at meetings. Determine how transmission of disease dynamics in bumblebees function under semi-field conditions. Supervision of PDRA and technician. |
Collaborator Contribution | Leading Objective 1: to determine the impact of agri-environment schemes on emerging disease dynamics in wild and managed pollinators. Objective 2: to determine the detailed mechanisms of transmission. |
Impact | No outputs yet - project just started. Multi-disciplinary: Genetics, animal behaviour, disease epidemiology |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | 22 Feb 18 AHDB/EMR Association Tree Fruit Day - Wildflower strips and solitary bees |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | 22 Feb 18 AHDB/EMR Association Tree Fruit Day Wildflower strips and solitary bees |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 25 Dutch companies, WET Centre, SWD and pollinators |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussion on SWD control and managing pollinators on farms |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | 26 Nov 20 Presentation to RHUL, 'Entomology - Pure & Applied'. module |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | 26 Nov 20 Presentation to RHUL, undergraduates on career choices. 'Entomology - Pure & Applied'. module |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | 26 Oct 17 BBC Radio Kent interview (whilst at the National Fruit Show) discussing the challenges faced by bees in the environment |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 26 Oct 17 BBC Radio Kent interview (whilst at the National Fruit Show) discussing the challenges faced by bees in the environment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | AHDB Fruit Agronomists' Day, NIAB EMR |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talks on New orchard biodiversity (TF 223), SWD Bait v overall sprays (SF/TF 145a) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Boosting solitary bees in apple orchards |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | 13 Sep 2017 AHDB Agronomist day at NIAB EMR |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Enhancing Beneficial Insects in Orchards |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Knowledge exchange to fruit growers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://ahdb.org.uk/events/enhancing-beneficial-insects-in-orchard-crops |
Description | Enhancing beneficial insect in orchards |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | National talk at Fruit Focus |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.fruitfocus.co.uk/fruit-focus-forums |
Description | Follow the Bees |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Fruit Focus farm walk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Fruit Focus tour, Enhancing pest control by planting floral resources in and around strawberry crops |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk followed by discussion on how to implement management of pollinators and control strawberry pests |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Innovation in Horticulture event, NIAB EMR, WET Centre: Fruit Quality attributes - research in to the role of beneficials and pollinators |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Discussion on research at NIAB EMR |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Innovations in fruit pest control and how WCoF kick-started recent pollination research at NIAB EMR |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Worshipful Company of Fruiterers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Introduction to pollinating insects |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | 25 Apr 2017 East Kent Fruit Society, Clive Baxter farm in Kent, Grower field meeting |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | LEAF Open Farm Sunday, Tuesley Farm, Surrey Bumblebees in horticultural crops |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | LEAF Open Farm Sunday, Tuesley Farm, Surrey Bumblebees in horticultural crops - on behalf of BBSRC. Attended by Michael Gove |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Pollination within strawberry crops |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Fruit Focus, East Malling - practical demonstration |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Post doc talk Canterbury Christ Church University 'Integrated Pest Management of Fruit Crops' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talk on IPM followed by open discussion |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Sustainable management of orchard pollination services |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | East Malling Tree Fruit day - talk to growers |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Talk to Lord Selborne on entomology work at NIAB EMR, Pollinators and entomology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Talk on the reach of research at NIAB EMR |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |