Pollinator Crops: The Numbers

I almost feel like I need to put up a disclaimer. No, we have not reached the point of no return. Not yet. But the impact that losing animal pollinators would have on hunger and the global economy would be devastating.

The Impact on Global Hunger

We know many food crops around the world need pollination, but just what do the real-world numbers look like? 

  • 75% of global crops rely, at least in part, on animal pollination
  • ≅35% of the food we eat is thanks to animal pollination
  • pollination is valued at up to $577 billion annually, and in 2025, US                    commercial beekeeping lost over 60% of colonies with an estimated loss of $600 million       

Would we starve? Not right away. Staple crops–wheat, rice, and corn–are either wind-pollinated or self-pollinating. So we would still have bread and tortillas. But pollinators are responsible for nutrient-dense foods; the foods that keep us healthy. 

Some Numbers

  • Coffee, soybeans, and oranges - as much as 40% animal pollination dependency
  • Almonds, apples, and blueberries - 40%-90% dependent
  • Vanilla, cocoa, and Brazil nuts - 90%-100% dependent, complete market collapse of these crops

The Domino Effect

Pollinators have a great effect on habitats and their ecosystems.

  • Supply and Demand - As the supply of fruits, vegetables, and nuts decreases, the price of these foods goes up. And up.
  • Cash Crops - A lot of the world’s “cash crops” are dependent on animal pollination.
  • Coffee and Cocoa - Without bees for coffee and midges for chocolate, these markets would disappear, leading to huge economic losses.
  • Almonds - In California alone, almond growers need over 2 million honey bee colonies every year, a problem in and of itself. This $5 billion-a-year industry would collapse.
  • Livestock - The meat and dairy markets are not exempt. As secondary consumers of pollinated crops, beef and dairy would become luxuries. Alfalfa and clover are forage crops which rely heavily on bees for seed production. If you can’t feed the cattle, you don’t get any beef or milk.

Not Just Crops

Pollinators are keystone species, without them, non-crop ecosystems would also collapse. Over 80% of wild flowering plants need animal pollination to reproduce. 

The disappearance of these plants would cause:       

  • Increased soil erosion - Plant roots bind the earth and hold soil in place. Without them, topsoil is lost and flooding increases.
  • Decrease in carbon capture - Fewer plants means less CO2 is taken from the atmosphere.
  • Decrease in biodiversity - Birds and small mammals that eat seeds and fruit would starve, creating a cascading extinction up the food chain.

The Outlook

Pollinators are hitting record, or near-record, lows. Are there artificial solutions or technological advances that can save us?

  • Hand pollination - Due to a large decrease in pollinators, China has been pollinating apple blossoms by hand for many years. As you can imagine, this is very labor-intensive. An average is around $20 USD per person per acre, with 20-25 people needed per acre for one day. Bees can pollinate an acre for less than 25% of that cost. 
  • Robot bees - Drone-based pollination is being tested. But right now, bee drones don’t have the precision or energy efficiency of natural pollinators. The drones would also need lithium, plastic, and energy that would increase harm to the environment.

Reality - Nature provides for free what humans are not yet able to duplicate. There is no Plan B. 

Conclusion:  Bee Friendly

The pollinator crisis requires a shift in how we view agriculture. It’s about protecting the systems that allow food to grow. It’s about moving away from monocultures. It’s about reducing the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

The hum of bees at work is the sound of nature doing what it does best. Without bees and other pollinators, the impact would be disastrous. Are we ready to pay the price if the buzz goes silent?