Economic Value of Pollination to Georgia Agriculture

Summary

As agriculture faces pollinator decline, assessments of potential economic losses are critical. For the state of Georgia, we show the economic value of pollination to be substantial ($367 million), equivalent to 13 percent of the total production value of the crops studied and 3 percent of the total production value of Georgia's agricultural sector.

Situation

In 1975, the honey bee, Apis mellifera, was named the state insect of Georgia because of its important contributions to the state's economy through honey production and the pollination of over 50 state crops. Honey bees were first imported from Europe in 1622, and for centuries, American farmers have used colonies of these European honey bees to pollinate their crops. Pollination is an ecosystem service and a production practice. As an ecosystem service, wild pollinators pollinate many crops. As a production practice, social bee colonies are purchased or rented to supplement the “free” services of wild pollinators. The existence of these sale and rental practices indicates that there may already be insufficient numbers of wild pollinators to support the agriculture industry's pollination needs. As agriculture is increasingly confronted with pollinator decline, it is necessary to assess the consequential loss of economic value associated with this phenomenon. The U.S. experienced large, unexplained losses of managed honey bee colonies during the winter of 2006-2007, leading to an investigation which identified a host of symptoms now known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Hives affected by CCD are characterized by, among other things, a rapid loss of adult honey bees (whose bodies are never found within or around the hive). CCD is thought to be caused by a combination of pathogens, parasites, pesticides (even at sub-lethal levels), weakened bee immune systems, poor nutrition and other environmental stressors. Additionally, herbicides and some fertilizers can harm pollinators by reducing the blossom availability, and it has been shown that bee diversity and abundance is positively affected by proximity to organically managed fields and landscapes. Invasive plant species also reduce the availability of preferred foraging plants, and alien pollinator species can spread pathogens to and dilute the genetic profile of pollinators. It is also likely that many viruses can spread from honey bees to wild bees and vice versa. Furthermore, Africanized honey bee race continues to spread northwards from Brazil, competing and breeding with European honey bees, further threatening pollination stability. CCD has piqued the public and agricultural sector's general interest in the value of (and best management practices for) pollination services. Our study serves to better inform these interests. For Georgia, the economic impact of changes in pollination services is potentially substantial.

Response

To determine the economic value of pollination services in Georgia, we develop and apply a theoretical model based on the bioeconomic approach. We identify Georgia crops reliant on biotic pollination, collect quantitative production value data on goods and services rendered by pollination services, and use these data to estimate the economic value of pollination services in Georgia. We also assess the geographic distribution of pollination services in the state using Geographic Information System (GIS) methods.

Impact

For the state of Georgia, we show the economic value of pollination to be substantial ($367 million), equivalent to 13 percent of the total production value of the crops studied and 3 percent of the total production value of Georgia's agricultural sector. Our unique GIS analysis reveals an irregular pattern of vulnerability. While the counties displaying the highest economic values of pollination are clustered in southern Georgia, those with the highest dependency on pollinators in terms of their contribution to crop production value tend to be more dispersed throughout the state.

State Issue

Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability

Details

• Year: 2014
• Geographic Scope: State
• County: Clarke
• Program Areas:
  • Agriculture & Natural Resources