Three quarters of crop species depend on pollinators, but they are under increasing threat from climate change. Declines in pollinators are predicted to have negative impacts on human health, as key dietary micronutrients in insect-pollinated crops such as vitamin A and folate are lost from the diet. This "hidden hunger" is predicted to cause significant global health burdens, with particularly pronounced effects in developing countries. Our projects focuses on Nepal, as a low-income country where micronutrient deficiencies are common. We will 1) predict the effect of climate change on crop pollinators in Nepal; 2) predict the ensuing impact on crop production and micronutrient intake; 3) run a field experiment to test the resilience of insect pollinated crops to climate change; 4) develop a policy and education package to mitigate the effects of climate change on crop pollination and micronutrient intake.

2020

2022