The why: on pollinators & pesticides

We think it is important to understand ‘the why’ of working seasonally and sustainably as florists, and the impact that even a small change to working with locally grown flowers can have on the environment, society, local businesses and ourselves. And as we are in the middle of ‘no mow May’, we thought now was a good time to explore pesticide use within the cut flower industry and why season-led floristry is a positive choice for pollinators… and thus humankind. 

The use of pesticides in the global cut flower industry is widespread. Although many of the imported flowers come via the Dutch auction houses, increasing volumes are now grown in the ‘global south’, in countries such as Kenya, Ecuador and Colombia, where the climate allows for year round production and labour costs are lower. 

Pesticides are widely used in farming across the world, including the large scale industrial farms in which flowers destined for large export markets are grown. Pesticides are subject to government regulation for safety reasons. But because flowers are not classified as edibles, they are not subject to the same level of regulations as food crops. A 2021 study* into pesticide use in flower production identified the use of 201 compounds, among which 93 are completely banned for use within the European Union (EU). 

The lack of limits on pesticides in cut flowers has led to pesticide overuse, which has a detrimental impact on water and air contamination, soil degradation and adverse effects on the reproduction and development of non-target organisms - ie pollinators. In addition to this, pesticide residue remains on the flowers which are then handled by florists and end customers. A 2016 study found pesticide residue in the urine of florists in Belgium (and what of the farmers themselves?).

Considerable research has been conducted into declining pollinator populations in the UK and around the world. According to a 2021 report, “Insects are suffering from ‘death by a thousand cuts’ [and] severe insect declines can potentially have global ecological and economic consequences.” Pesticide and herbicide use is one of the causes of this population decline.

A more recent (Dec 2022) study has identified the link between global pollinator losses and human health, and has estimated that it is causing approximately 500,000 early deaths a year due to the reduction of the supply of healthy foods. Inadequate pollination due to the sharp decline in the number of insects has caused a 3%-5% loss of fruit, vegetable and nut production, which results in a lower consumption of these foods, and means that approximately 1% of all deaths can be attributed to pollinator loss.

Insects make up the majority of creatures that live on land, and provide key benefits to many other species, including humans. They provide food for birds, bats and small mammals; they pollinate around 75% of the crops in the world; they replenish soils and keep pest numbers in check. Yet a global 2019 study found that declines in almost all regions may lead to the extinction of 40% of insects over the next few decades, with butterflies bees and dung beetles the most affected.

These sorts of statistics can feel overwhelming and difficult to comprehend, so we thought we would share this poem by Brian Bilston, which articulates the challenges of pollinator decline beautifully.

The Last Bee
Brian Bilston

After the last ee
had uzzed its last uzz,

the irds and the utterflies
did what they could.

ut soon the fields lay are,
few flowers were left,

nature was roken,
and the planet ereft.

Supporting our pollinator populations is so important. Initiatives like ‘no mow May’ encourage individuals to support wild plants and pollinator populations. And on a larger scale, farming that is based on organic and regenerative practices are enormously supportive of pollinator populations. Local, small scale flower farmers in particular tend to farm in this way. Without the use of pesticides, natural ecosystems (think ladybirds amongst others!) are restored, keeping pests under control. And many flower farmers also use companion planting to keep their crops safe. In addition to this, by supporting pollinator populations, flower farms also indirectly support food production.

We could bang on about the many reasons for using locally grown flowers for days… but in a nutshell, when it comes to pesticides and pollinators by supporting your local flower farmer and using more British locally grown flowers in your floristry, you are having a direct impact on pollinator populations and wider ecosystems and on soil and water health - as well as our own… so get in touch with your local flower farmer today to order flowers, or join us for a workshop to increase your confidence in introducing more British flowers into your practice. The bees will love you for it.

* Sources:

Pereira et al (2021) A review on pesticides in flower production: A push to reduce human exposure and environmental contamination, Environmental Pollution.

Sanchez-Bayo & Wyckhuys (2019) Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: a review of its drivers, Biological Conservation.

Smith et al (2022) Pollinator deficits, food consumption and consequences for human health: a modeling study, Environmental Health Perspectives.

Toumi et al (2016) Pesticide Residues on Three Cut Flower Species and Potential Exposure of Florists in Belgium, International Journal Envirn Res Public Health.