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Anna Kynthia Bousdoukou
A world with no insects?
Insect populations globally are experiencing a concerning decline, with certain species having been reduced by a staggering 80% over the past half-century. In an animated video interview, Professor of Biology Dave Goulson of the University of Sussex and the founder of the UK's Bumblebee Conservation Trust spoke with SNF Dialogues producer Phobe Fronista about the consequences for both nature and humanity if insects were to vanish entirely.
Why are insects essential to life on Earth and how do factors like pesticides and agricultural methods impact their sustainability? Additionally, how are daily products like coffee and chocolate connected to pollination? Professor Goulson describes the life cycle of bees and their role in pollination and explains why, despite the ongoing decline of bee populations, he is still hopeful.
Produced by Phoebe Fronista
Animation by Alexia Barakou
The world wouldn’t really work without insects... I hate to sound like a crazy, end-of-the-world doomsayer, but if we let insects continue to decline it will be catastrophic for all of us, we will not be able to feed the world.
Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology, University of Sussex, UK
*The opinions expressed by Dialogues participants, whether representing officially institutions and organizations or themselves, on events, articles, or other audiovisual media are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) or iMEdD. Opinions expressed are made freely, without prior guidance or intervention from the team.