15 February 2024
Pollinators are one of the most essential contributors to healthy ecosystems and thriving biodiversity. However, in recent decades, there has been a dramatic decline in pollinating species due to a series of direct and indirect drivers. To address this alarming issue, a growing number of initiatives, declarations and policies have been set at the EU policy level. Despite this, indirect drivers of pollinator loss linked to values, governance and institutions remain understudied in the EU.
In response to that, in February 2024, a stakeholder dialogue titled “Safeguard Buzzing Table: Understanding EU Policy Dynamics on Pollinators” was organised by IUCN and SLU, to improve communication between research and policy. The Buzzing Table gathered key stakeholders involved in the pollinator agenda and related policy at the EU level. It provided an opportunity for them to meet, discuss and search for synergies.
During the Buzzing Table discussion, SLU researchers presented the preliminary findings of their research, which aims to respond to the questions:
How did the ‘pollinator(s) agenda’ emerge at the European level?
To what extent was it institutionalised at the European level?
Which politics have been playing out during its emergence and institutionalisation?
Following the presentation, the conversation moved into a panel discussion exploring the political and policy landscape that had supported or prevented pollinator-friendly practices, as well as on future opportunities and challenges. Six speakers took the stage, representing environmental NGOs, EU policymakers from the environmental, agriculture and health policy areas, and farmers organisations. The event drew a diverse crowd of 38 participants, ranging from policymakers and researchers to conservationists, think tank experts, and network members. The dialogue wrapped up with an engaging Q&A session, giving the audience a chance to weigh in and deepen the exchange.
Moreover, the discussion led to the production of a policy brief gathering the outcomes of the discussion and findings from the SLU research. The brief provides an overview of how the initiatives and policies set at the EU policy level to tackle pollinators' decline, herewith the EU pollinator agenda, came to be and summarises socio-political drivers of such decline, linked to the diverse (and diverging) perspectives on pollinators in both policy and practice. The brief highlights the important role of current policies and increased knowledge, and conveys a message of urgency, calling for necessary action in governance, policy and practice to support a positive change for pollinators.
Read the full policy brief here.
Interested in learning more about pollinators? Discover useful resources: