Insects

Their services in pollination and soil management make insects vital for agriculture. But farming also poses grave threats to them. We need to better maintain and restore biodiversity in farmed landscapes.

Long-term research, individual studies  and the Red Lists all tell the same story:  the numbers and diversity of insects  are heading downhill. Plugging the gaps  in the data will do nothing to change  this conclusion.

The decline in both insect populations and in the number of species is well documented, though the evidence is patchy outside  Europe and North America. Scientists agree that agriculture has a negative influence. Both the expansion and intensification of farming seem to be to blame.

Organic farming focuses on maintaining  soil fertility and biodiversity. But for  an insect-friendly future, the whole farm landscape will have to change.

To limit the damage that insect pests  cause to crops, we call on their natural enemies – mostly other insects.  Biological pest control is all the more successful if diversity is higher.