PICT-2017-3336: “Management of the floral and nest resources of wild bees to enhance crop pollination”

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​In Argentina, the crop production that is dependent on pollination was duplicated in only 50 years. Likewise, land use intensification, climate global change and establishment of invasive species, are causing a strong pollinator decline (“pollination crisis”). Because of the growing richness and abundance bee loss, it has been proposed use wild bees for the crop pollination, in combination or in substitution of the honeybee. (Apis mellifera). Natural and semi-natural areas within crops provide resources and habitat for wild pollinator, such as food and nest sites. The implementation of artificially plant communities in crop edges could increase pollinator diversity and improvement crop pollination, enhancing the production quality. The project goal is to implement new management strategies of entomophilous plants and bees in order to enhances the crop pollination quality. Native and commercial aromatic plant communities will be sowed in crop edges and crop pollination enhancement will be evaluated in the surrounding crops.