Mitigating Multiple Stressors on Managed Pollinators

This document presents a comprehensive overview of response options to mitigate multiple stressors affecting managed pollinators, including pesticides, pathogens, and poor nutrition. It outlines effective strategies for farmers, beekeepers, and policymakers, focusing on farm management—such as reducing pesticide use, adopting integrated pest management, and minimizing drift—habitat management like creating flower-rich patches and restoring semi-natural areas, and bee management practices including hive placement, using disease-resistant queens, and following best practices for stock selection. The document emphasizes that these measures are most effective when supported by policy, training, payments, and equipment provision through agri-environment schemes. Key feasible options with support include establishing pollinator-friendly habitats, providing training, certifying colonies and products, and offering financial incentives for pollination services. Without additional support, simpler actions like hive closure and using healthy queens remain viable. The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 779291.