On-the-ground programming to develop and apply pollinator-friendly agricultural practices needs more funding! Projects and nonprofit organizations (like BGO) are creating new and innovative solutions that need to be prioritized at local and national levels. The discoveries and changes brought by these orgs and others like them are only the beginning of the work required for the widespread transition to regenerative agriculture that is so desperately needed. Many small, privately-owned farms, ranches, and vineyards (among other agricultural sites) will also need financial support to learn about and engage pollinator-friendly practices. It’s possible but needs investment from municipal, state, and local governments as well as public and private donors.

Education is the first step in building public support for the importance of pollinators. Teaching children and adults alike the truths from the wide-spread myths and establishing an understanding of what a healthy ecosystem looks like is paramount if we want to build long-term, sustainable solutions for addressing pollinator conservation and protection. Today, children learn about pollinators in school, and there is a general consensus that “bees are good,” but not many people know how significant the decline has been for bee populations because of human activity, or how this impacts our everyday lives from the food we eat to the air we breathe. More education is needed to get people on board with widespread pollinator protections. Education also needs to be happening at the legislative level. Legislators—those with the power to make legal advances—need to have a firm understanding of these basic concepts as well as the public push for change.

In addition to public support, we need policy changes to significantly reduce pesticide usage in the United States and around the world, prioritize regenerative farming techniques that embrace bees and our other pollinators, and place emphasis on conserving and preserving healthy ecosystems, both in nature and in agriculture.

Here are two congressional bills to keep an eye on this year. Both were introduced in 2023 (one is an updated version of a past bill from 2021).

• Pollinator-Friendly Plant Labeling Act (2023) | H.R.4277 | 118th Congress | Learn more >>>
• Saving America’s Pollinators Act (2023) | S.2199 | 118th Congress | Learn more >>>

These are only two of the many bills at the federal government level of the United States that are up for consideration. To find what bills have been introduced in your state, check out the National Conference of State Legislatures database.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: public support matters. When we band together and publicly make our disapproval known, when we adjust our spending habits to support only those companies that share our values, when we protest in the streets, and when cast votes to tell legistlators what we think . . . These are all forms of public support. This is how we create change.

The fact that you’re reading this right now means you’re off to a great start. Well done! Taking time to learn about our planet and the role our pollinators play arms you with the knowledge you need to make informed, environmentally conscious decisions every day. Share this with others in your life to equip them with knowledge and help us achieve our goal of widespread pollinator support. Then, tag us on socials to let us know your favorite fact about pollinators and pollinator protections!

Connect with local and national nonprofits working to create and implement pollinator protections where you live. If you like the work they’re doing and want to help, donate! Your monetary support is essential. Even a few dollars can make a big difference.

The truth is environmental organizations receive less than 3% of all philanthropy in the United States. This number is particularly alarming when you realize that our environment—and the wellbeing of our pollinators—directly impacts the health of all people.

Join community groups teaching others about the importance of pollinators. Be part of protests against widespread pesticide usage that is actively harming people and not just our pollinators. Be a friend to pollinators by transforming your yard into a pollinator oasis (or simply start by planting pollinator-friendly flowers and cutting back on the pesticides). Email your legislators and let them know why pollinators are so important and they should support ongoing pollinator protection legislation. Heck, send them this webpage! Sign petitions and be outspoken about the changes that need to happen in order to protect pollinators and transform our planet into a healthier place for every living thing.

Every little action counts. Start today.

You can find a list of 2024 international environmental protests here. >>>

You can find regularly occurring and upcoming U.S. environmental protests here.>>>

Voting is an extremely important resource when it comes to the environment. How we’re able to move forward with sustainable initiatives depends a lot on the willingness of people to vote for legislators and, by extension, pieces of legislation that will change how our country approaches pollinator protection, conservation, and restoration as well as regenerative agriculture practices.

Your vote absolutely matters. While we recognize that the opposite can so often feel true in today’s political climate, the truth is, we need people voicing their opinion for the climate now more than ever. The changing tide of public opinion very often comes through voting outcomes. Even a percent change can make all the difference.

Know what environmental initiatives are coming up on your ballot and the environmental stance of your prospective candidates.

As the name suggests, companion flowers are those planted alongside vegetable and fruit crops to provide additional environmental services, such as pest control, increased soil nutrients, attracting pollinators, and soil stability due to more complex root systems.

In the same way that corn, beans, and squash (the ‘three sisters’ of Indigenous tradition) are planted together in order to create ideal growing conditions for all three crops, companion flowers provide similar benefits for the surrounding plants.²“The Three Sisters of Indigenous American Agriculture,” U.S. Department of Agriculture ≫

Creating pollinator-friendly spaces where you live can be hugely beneficial to pollinator species, whether you live in an urban or rural environment. Pollinators are necessary for the health and wellness of habitats all around the world—including your own backyard.

• Consider planting a pollinator friendly garden³“Resources,” People and Pollinators Action Network ≫
• Teach community members about the benefits of pollinators (they’re not pests!)
• Stop recreational mowing

Mowing in general is terrible for many species of bees and pollinators that use long grasses to shelter, source food (from wildflowers), and nest. Only 10% of the 20,000 bee species in the world are social (live in hives). Seventy percent prefer to nest in the ground. As a result, mowing can do significant damage to these important pollinators and their habitats—and that’s not to mention the fossil fuels required to run lawnmowers and tractors, which are also toxic to these habitats. It’s estimated that 17 million gallons of gas are spilled every year while refilling mowers and other tools for lawn maintenance.⁴“Lawns and Landscapes,” Beyond Pesticides ≫

The use of pollinator-friendly practices on farms and ranches has been proven to be mutually beneficial for the health of lands, animals, and produce. The soil itself benefits from pollinators and can then support healthier animals and grow better quality food. Farmers, ranchers, and vineyard managers alike can support the work of pollinators by using pesticide alternatives as well as planting pollinator-friendly flora (among other solutions).

Check out some examples and best practices from our friends at The Bee Girl Organization:

• Pollinators on farms
• Pollinators on ranches
• Pollinators in vineyards

To make effective changes for pollinators, we need pollinator-specific policies and bills that prioritize regenerative agriculture, soil health, and combatting climate change. This can be done at local, state, and federal government levels, uplifting local food systems and smaller farmers, grocers, and businesses prioritizing whole environmental wellness.

Policy has an impact. A big one. It shows where our priorities lie and influences who will be given assistance, when and how much, and what the future of agriculture in the United States will look like. Making changes to policies that serve only the interests of sizeable corporations and not the whole of agriculture or the planet is an important step.

Monocropping is the planting of a single crop on the same piece of land year after year. This practice, while initially more profitable for farmers due to the amount that can be grown in a single season, depletes the soil of essential nutrients and biodiversity. As a result, farmers are forced to supplement this nutrient loss with artificial fertilizers and higher pesticide use, which are harmful to the environment and often toxic to pollinators and other organisms. This, in turn, further depletes soil biodiversity, significantly reducing crop health and yield and results in soil that is unhealthy, unstable, and unprofitable.

How do pollinators help improve soil health? The answer is plants. Flowering plants, which pollinators help to reproduce, provide essential nutrients and benefits to the soil. They help purify water, make soil more stable through complex root systems, and participate in nutrient exchange with the soil. The foliage of these plants provides shade, protection, and foraging material for insects and other organisms living in the soil, enabling them to survive and thrive. Increased biodiversity in soil allows it to support more diverse plant life, and so the positive cycle continues.⁷“Gardening for Soil Health,” Natural Resources Conservation Service ≫; “Regard and protect ground‐nesting pollinators as part of soil biodiversity,” Ecological Applications ≫

Regenerative agriculture is the practice of enriching the land through farming and other agricultural practices; an effort that has been led by Indigenous Communities for thousands of years. Rather than stripping the ground of its nutrients, regenerative practices add to the health and strength of the soil and the overall ecosystem. In essence, it’s a decolonization of agriculture. ¹⁰“Regenerative Agriculture 101,” Natural Resources Defense Council ≫; “Native Growers Decolonize Regenerative Agriculture,” Green America ≫

Regenerative agriculture, as noted by One Earth, is “a pathway to an abundant and resilient future . . . shifting from the narrative of human dominion to one of healing our relationship with the Earth.” As a result, farms become more resistant to climate-related threats such as drought, flooding, and extreme shifts in temperature.¹¹“Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems,” One Earth ≫