THE IMPORTANCE OF INSECT POLLINATORS FOR POLISH FOOD SECURITY

The purpose of this paper is to determine the effect of insect pollinators on the volume of food production in Poland, and thus to identify their role in ensuring the food security of the country. The object of the study was related to major entomophilous crop plants, i.e. rapeseed, fruit plants, fruit shrubs and permanent crops: fruit and berry plantations. The analyses were based on data from the Polish Central Statistical Offi ce, the Institute of Horticulture, and subject literature. The results of the study indicate that insect pollinators play a key role in fruit production (absence of pollinators may result in a crop yield reduction ranging between 50% and 90%) and a signifi cant role in rapeseed production (a possible yield reduction of approx. 20–40%). In terms of physical availability of food, Polish food security would be preserved even in the absence of insect pollinators. However, at the level of economic availability, food security would not be preserved without such pollinators, particularly in terms of fruit and food security associated with the consumption of properly balanced rations.