The Importance of Pollinators for Nutrients in Our Food
Author Information
Author(s): Eilers Elisabeth J., Kremen Claire, Smith Greenleaf Sarah, Garber Andrea K., Klein Alexandra-Maria
Hypothesis
The contribution of nutrients from animal-pollinated crops has not been previously evaluated as a measure for the value of pollination services.
Conclusion
Animal-pollinated crops provide the majority of essential nutrients for human health, and their decline could significantly impact global nutrition.
Supporting Evidence
- Over 90% of vitamin C comes from animal-pollinated crops.
- Animal-pollinated crops provide 74% of all globally produced lipids.
- 55% of available folate is present in animal-pollinated crops.
- 98% of carotenoids like lycopene are found in crops that require pollination.
Takeaway
Pollinators like bees help plants grow fruits and vegetables that are good for us. If we lose these pollinators, we might not get enough vitamins and minerals from our food.
Methodology
The study analyzed data on crop production and nutritional composition to evaluate the contribution of animal-pollinated crops to human nutrition.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on U.S. data for global nutrient analysis.
Limitations
The findings are limited by the use of nutrient analysis data primarily from the U.S., which may not represent global nutritional content.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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