productive results. For us, the stakes are just too high to for pettiness, grand-standing or back-biting. We want to see the health of pollinating animals improve.”
NAPPC created the national Academy of Sciences NRC panel, which issued the first, scientific-based report demonstrating major pollinator decline in North America in 2006. “We know that to measure the improvement in the health of pollinating species, we need to establish a baseline of their current circumstances,” says Adams. “That is why the one of the most important NAPPC success stories is the National Academy of Sciences NRC report on the Status of the Pollinators of North America.”
Adams feels that while it was not a new assessment, it was significant because it is the first compilation of all the information currently available and it focused the industry’s attention on pollinators. “The economic and ecological significance of pollinators had been established and the threat of the decline in honey bees was an all too real illustration of the fragility of the pollination services we have come to rely on for so much of our agriculture and ecosystems,” she says.
Since then, NAPPC has been striving to create the first-ever international data bank of pollinator information. “The pollinator thematic network of the Inter-American Biological Network is up and running now and it is accessible by everyone,” explains Adams.
As well, NAPPC plans to demonstrate the positive measurable impact on the populations and health of pollinating animals within five years. According to Adams, the real question is how will NAPPC measure its goals to an improvement in the health of pollinators thanks to their efforts?
“We do not have acreage or species counts yet. But, what we do have is clear and irrefutable evidence that the discussion is expanding as a result of our outreach,” she explains. Efforts to date have included: speeches at the United Nations for two years running; international meetings and 11 major memoranda of understanding with agencies and organizations central to all land management decisions; resources and tools implemented from the Farm Act of 2008; successful lobbying for increased funding; and four years of championing National Pollinator Week events in over 40 states.
“A great index of our success would be: that bees would not be viewed as the enemy but rather as a valued partner; that butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, flies, ants and others would be seen as indispensable plant workers rather than simply a showy decoration that flutters, skitters or sweeps by; and that the welfare of the plants and animals that directly support our own well-being would drive our conservation actions to restore and create landscapes that support the web of life.”
Internationally, programs such as Operation Bumblebee in the United Kingdom and Operation Pollinator across Europe are providing practical solutions to help growers create valuable on-farm habitats to encourage natural pollinators.
Agricultural companies are also becoming involved. Syngenta AG has begun Operation Pollinator based on scientific research and the experience of selected farmers has proven to help growers successfully establish and manage pollen rich habitat in key locations around the farm – with dramatic recovery in pollinating insect populations. Building on the success of Operation Bumblebee in the UK, Operation Pollinator is being developed on commercial farms across Europe, with projects running concurrently in France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the UK.
“Currently we are in talks with Syngenta as they begin their U.S. program and we are hoping that in year-two of their work we will have a place in the partnership,” says Adams. “What is interesting is that in the U.K. in particular, the understanding of bumble bee declines is a bit more advanced than in the U.S. They have a smaller number of species to deal with and also a great army of amateur naturalists who are eager to contribute significant data. We can learn a great deal from their work.”
In addition to efforts directed at the farm level, the seed industry is also stepping up to play a role in pollinator protection. In recent years, the Seed Treatment and Environment Committee of the International Seed Federation has made researching
Novozymes Biologicals is pleased to announce the appointment of
Sanford Gleddie as Global Marketing and Sales Director for the BioAg group of Novozymes Biologicals, manufacturer of the inoculants JumpStart®, Tag Team®, and N-Prove®, plus other yield enhancing biological products.
Sanford has served the company for over 21 years in many capacities, including starting BioAg’s marketing and sales team in 1996. He holds an Agricultural Degree from the University of Alberta, and a Master’s Degree in Soil Science from the University of Saskatchewan. Most recently, Sanford was the Global Business Development Manager, and previous to that he was the CEO of Philom Bios Australia.
Globally, Sanford will be overseeing Novozymes Biologicals’ six Regional Business Managers, Customer Communications Team, Distribution Accounts Management, and Regulatory.
Learn more about Novozymes Biologicals BioAg Group at 1-888-744-5662 | www.bioag.novozymes.com Novozymes is the world leader in bioinnovation. Together with customers across a broad array of industries we create tomorrow’s industrial biosolutions, improving our customers’ business, and the use of our planet’s resources. Read more at www.novozymes.com.
® JumpStart, Tag Team, and N-Prove are registered trademarks of Novozymes A/S. © 2009 Novozymes. All rights reserved. 9134 11.09
DECEMBER 2009
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