Assessing The Economic Impact of Insect Pollination on the Agricultural Sector: A Department-Level Case Study in France

• Yasmine Blili

  CIHEAM-IAMM - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France

  Author

• Elie Abou Nader

  CIHEAM-IAMM - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France

  Author

• Iciar Pavez

  CIHEAM-IAMM - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France

  Author

• Paolo Prosperi

  CIHEAM-IAMM - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France

  Author

• Rachid Harbouze

  IAV Hassan II – Hassan II institute of agronomy and veterinary sciences, Rabat BP 6202, Morocco

  Author

• Leonidas Sotirios Kyrgiakos

  Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytoko, Volos 38446, Greece

  Author

• Christina Kleisiari

  Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytoko, Volos 38446, Greece

  Author

• Marios Vasileiou

  Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytoko, Volos 38446, Greece

  Author

• Vasileios Angelopoulos

  Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytoko, Volos 38446, Greece

  Author

• George Vlontzos

  Department of Agriculture Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Fytoko, Volos 38446, Greece

  Author

• Georgios Kleftodimos

  UMR MoISA, Univ Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, 34090 Montpellier, France

  Author

Pollination is a critical ecosystem service for agriculture, with 76% of European food crops and 80% of wild plants depending on it. However, bee populations are declining due to diseases, pesticides, and climate change, with major economic and environmental impacts. In France, pollination services are valued between 2,3 and 5,3 billion euros annually, but detailed data at Department scale (NUTS 3) is lacking. This study assesses the Economic Value of Crop Production, Insect Pollination, and Agricultural Vulnerability across French departments, using 2022 data and the dependence ratio method. Among 34 crops analyzed, 26 were pollinator-dependent. We estimate France’s Economic Value of Crop Production at 34,8 billion € and Economic Value of Insect Pollination at 4,2 billion €, with an Agricultural Vulnerability rate of 12%. The highest Economic Value of Insect Pollination per hectare was recorded in Loire-Atlantique (19302,5 €/ha) and the lowest in Seine-Saint-Denis (575,5 €/ha). By analyzing crop-specific dependencies and regional production patterns, the study reveals that southern and western France, particularly departments specialized in fruit and vegetables, are most economically dependent and vulnerable to pollinator decline. A Generalized Additive Model was created to understand the variability of the Economic Value of Insect Pollination per hectare in the different departments of France. This model explained 97,6% of Economic Value of Insect Pollination per hectare variability, showing that vegetable and fruit production strongly drives pollination value. The results highlight spatial disparities in pollination dependency and underscore the need for territorially targeted conservation strategies. Compared to previous studies, our findings suggest a significant underestimation of pollination value, highlighting the need for fine-scale entomological research and territorially targeted conservation strategies to support sustainable agricultural development.

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