Falk Krumbe, Simone Melder, Arndt Feuerbacher

In the face of declining insect biodiversity, this study reviews the critical role of pollination services in seed production of food crops. Insects, as pollinators, play a fundamental role in the reproductive processes of both wild and domesticated plants, impacting global agriculture. While previous reviews have assessed the influence of pollinators on primary food production, this review extends to seed production, an essential precursor in the agricultural supply chain. Here we add to the existing body of literature by reviewing the dependence on pollination services in seed production for the major crops that are propagated via seeds. We show that out of 47 crops analyzed, 16 essentially depend on pollinators, 19 highly, 2 moderately, 3 little, and 7 crops do not depend on insect pollinators at all. This research highlights the significant and often overlooked role of pollinators in seed production, emphasizing the need for further investigation into the potential consequences of changing pollinator populations on global agriculture and food security. It also underscores the importance of preserving pollinator populations and integrating their contributions into economic assessments and databases.