Animal pollination plays a crucial role in global food production, contributing to a third of it. However, there has been limited research on how the identity of pollinators, the pollen they transfer, and the varieties of crops they visit influence the nutritional, sensory, and commercial value of fruits. Pollinators affect crop quality through their movement patterns across fields and the specific plant varieties they visit. In a recent article published in Trends in Plant Science, researchers from the University of Göttingen argue that the focus on promoting pollinators has overshadowed the importance of improving plant quality. They suggest that greater attention should be given to understanding the species-specific behavior of pollinators and how crop varieties are distributed in fields to enhance plant quality.

Animal pollination is vital for about two-thirds of the world’s most significant crops, which include many fruits, nuts, and pulses. These crops provide over 90% of the vitamin C in our diets, along with essential carotenoids and antioxidants. For example, bees have been shown to increase the polyunsaturated fatty acid content and oil yield in rapeseed, and they also enhance the oil content and fruit weight of avocados.

The researchers emphasize the importance of considering not just the quantity of pollinators, but also their specific species, the varieties of crops they visit, and the type of pollen being transferred. They argue that pollen transfer can be ineffective if pollinator behavior or plant arrangements change. Therefore, the quality of crops depends not only on how many pollinators are active but also on how different pollinator species interact with plants both spatially and temporally.

The team concludes that future research should focus not just on the quantity of crops, but also on improving their quality. Better nutrient composition directly benefits consumer health. To achieve this, they suggest promoting cross-pollination by considering crop variety and pollen quality. They also advocate for comparing the quality of self-pollinated and cross-pollinated varieties. Furthermore, they recommend designing cultivated areas and surrounding landscapes in ways that allow pollinators to move efficiently, ensuring optimal pollination and better fruit quality. Professor Teja Tscharntke, Dr. Carolina Ocampo-Ariza, and Dr. Wiebke Kämper from the Functional Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology Group at the University of Göttingen stress the need for a more comprehensive approach to pollination research that emphasizes both pollinator diversity and plant quality.