Project description DEENESFRITPL Conserving bees to save our farms The use of pesticides and chemical-intensive farming systems are causing bees and other vital pollinators to die at alarming rates worldwide. These insects are essential for two-thirds of our food crops. Enhancing biodiversity is one way to mitigate the loss of pollinator diversity. The EU-funded FAB project will investigate the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of key pollinating species. It will conduct research at cereal and flower fields in France. Ultimately, the project’s goal is to integrate the concept of functional agricultural biodiversity to help farmers restore key ecological services (biological crop pest suppression and crop pollination) to ensure biodiversity-friendly production. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Regulating services (pest regulation and pollination) are considered to be the major ecosystem services (ES) delivered by biodiversity to agriculture worldwide. Unfortunately the expansion of modern, chemical-intensive agriculture has caused widespread declines in the abundance and diversity of beneficial arthropods (e.g. bees, natural enemies of pests) and the valuable ES they provide. Increasing plant biodiversity to enhance pollinators and natural enemies in agro-ecosystems is a promising management technique to foster ES delivery. However, the translation of increased species diversity and abundance into enhanced ES provision and thus crop yield cannot be depended upon. Furthermore, ES are currently studied in isolation and potential antagonisms between ES poorly understood. With recent research suggesting that management methods for one ES may be detrimental to the other, it is imperative that these ES are no longer studied in isolation to better understand potential antagonisms / synergies. The FAB (Functional Agricultural Biodiversity) Project will, for the first time, study the effects of plant biodiversity on the delivery of these two vital ES collectively. Performed in collaboration with ECOBIO and the company Yves Rocher, the project will utilise cereal and flower fields in NW France to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of key ES-provider species and how this translates into increased ES provision (pollination and pest regulation for the farmer). Ultimately, the research aims to find solutions for the removal of barriers that prevent or limit the delivery of pest regulation and pollination by FAB and ES management strategies and enhance yield for the farmers. A 6 months secondment to Yves Rocher will offer me unique insight into industry, learning the constraints of production and necessity to develop a marketing image, further strengthening my reputation within my field and developing future collaborative relationships. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedscerealsnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyinvertebrate zoology Keywords Optimisation of Ecosystem Services Agriculture Pollination Pest Control Crop Yield Landscape Management Integrated Pest Management IPM Functional Diversity Conservation Biological Control Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITE DE RENNES Net EU contribution € 196 707,84 Address 263 avenue du general leclerc 35042 Rennes France See on map Region Bretagne Bretagne Ille-et-Vilaine Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
