Learn about a citizen science project working with allotment holders that investigated pollination and urban food production.
Over one third of all the food we eat relies on insects for pollination. While there is increasing interest in urban food growing as a more sustainable option for meeting the nutritional needs of city dwellers, we currently know very little about pollinator populations in urban areas. Beth will report the results of a recent study that harnessed the power of citizen science and engaged urban growers themselves in collecting data on the bees, beetles, butterflies and flies that pollinate fruit and vegetable crops in urban areas.
Dr Beth Nicholls is a research fellow at the University of Sussex with over ten years experience studying the ecology and behaviour of bees. A major motivation for her research is to contribute solutions for the dual challenges of halting insect declines and producing food more sustainably.
entoLIVE is delivered by the Biological Recording Company and sponsored by:
- British Entomological and Natural History Society
- environmentjob
- Field Studies Council
- Royal Entomological Society
