| The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) has awarded Iowa State professor Lisa Schulte a $503,028 grant to study pollinator health, abundance, and diversity. Schulte is leading a team of researchers from both Iowa State and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Pollinator health is integral in crop productivity, and this study will determine the best ways in which farmers can support pollinator populations. Past studies have shown that strategically placed patches of prairie in crop fields reduces soil erosion, nutrient loss, and increases the total number and diversity of pollinators in the area. With pollinator health declining, the FFAR created the Pollinator Health Fund. It is estimated that pollinators add $24 billion to the United States economy every year. The decline in pollinator health and population is worrisome and this study may be crucial in ameliorating the problem. To learn more about this research from Iowa State, read more here. |
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