One Health, One Future: Pollinator Discussions in Brussels

European food sovereignty stands as the defining goal of the new agri-food vision, set against a backdrop of climate, environmental, and demographic challenges. Self-sufficiency, competitiveness, and generational renewal have emerged as the key pillars of this evolving strategy.

Yet, beneath this vision lies a critical, often overlooked truth: every agri-food policy carries direct implications for both human health and the health of our planet.In Europe, agricultural policy plays a pivotal role in shaping the sustainability of the ecosystems that support our food systems and, ultimately, the quality and safety of what ends up on our plates.

BeeLife: role, strategy and approach

Agri-food policies in Europe are being reshaped, and BeeLife offers a multidisciplinary and scientific approach, united with the ability to engage key stakeholders and drive change. 

The organisation is intensifying its efforts on two strategic fronts: reinforcing its role as a trusted advocate and advisor of bees, pollinators and beekeepers within EU institutions, and deepening collaboration with partners involved in European projects focused on environmental sustainability and pollinator protection.

Intensive week for Pollinators, Environment and Humanity

During the week marked by the Bee World Day and Biodiversity Day (from 19th to 23rd May 2025),  BeeLife took the opportunity to be part of active meetings, workshops and advocacy discussions in Brussels. Cooperating for a single, unified vision of health, one that encompasses pollinators, the environment, and human beings, is imperative and a scientific necessity. 

The One Health approach, as outlined by Mahefarisoa et al. (2021), is a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. It aims to address global health challenges by promoting effective communication, coordination, and capacity building across sectors and disciplines. The One Health approach emphasizes the importance of understanding the complex relationships between humans, animals, and the environment to prevent, detect, and control diseases, including zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

Figure: Pollinators and the ONE HEALTH approach. Mahefarisoa et al., 2021 (1)

BeeLife Agenda 19th - 23rd May 2025

On the technical, scientific, and strategic collaboration side, BeeLife took part in various discussion forums: -  collaborated with project leaders involved in EU Pollinators research, moderating a multi-stakeholder workshop to share resources and build bridges in content and activities about pollinator and biodiversity-related initiatives, with the support of DG-ENV. - Discussed with other European farmers, consumers, citizens, and environmental organisations to align strategies, activities, and scientific priorities.

On the political front, BeeLife: - engaged directly with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and their policy teams, - met representatives from DG AGRI, DG SANTE, DG ENVI and the Cabinet of Commissioner Varhelyi for Health and Animal Welfare.

During the discussions, BeeLife promoted an approach that keeps pollinators and people's health at the heart of a future vision for Europe, especially dealing with key topics of today’s and tomorrow’s policies, like regulations on pesticides, NGTs, food and beekeeping products and Nature Restoration Law.

Other key issues that emerged were the strong call from 1.2 million EU citizens in support of protecting bees and farmers from the harmful effects of synthetic pesticide use(2).

The actions promoted and adopted by BeeLife during this intensive week:

• a plan of recurrent meetings with MEPs and Commissioners to provide more knowledge about the strong connection between our health, economy, culture and pollinators and a deep scientific exploration of pollination’s contribution to society

• creation of fostering broad collaboration and open dialogue among stakeholders,

• the organisation of the upcoming Pollinator Week event in early November.
  

Noa Simon, Scientific Director at BeeLife, says: “Pollinators are indispensable creatures for the reproduction of many crops and wild plants, directly influencing food diversity, nutritional quality, and agricultural productivity. If European agricultural policy wants to evolve in response to environmental and public health challenges, integrating the protection of pollinators is essential for safeguarding biodiversity, crop yields and human well-being. We are strengthening our dialogue with institutions, NGOs, researchers, academic institutions, farmers and other stakeholders to advance biodiversity protection initiatives in a united and coordinated manner.” 

Footnotes

1. https://hal.science/hal-03186718/document  2. As a reminder, citizens demanded:

A phase-out of synthetic pesticide. By 2030, the use of synthetic pesticides in EU agriculture shall be reduced by 80 per cent. By 2035, agriculture throughout the Union shall be synthetic pesticide-free. The Commission sought to address this demand through the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation. Still, following its withdrawal last year, citizens are wondering how EU governments will respond to this demand.Measures to recover biodiversity. Habitats shall be restored, and agricultural areas shall become a vector of biodiversity recovery. The Nature Restoration Law is a good step forward in this direction. However, the new priorities of the Commission threaten the effectiveness of the Common Agricultural Policy in meeting this demand. 

Support for farmers. Farmers must be supported in the necessary transition towards agroecology. Small, diverse, and sustainable farms shall be favoured, organic farming shall be expanded, and research into pesticide-free and GMO-free agriculture shall be supported. Again, the new political priorities of the Commission, competitiveness and defence, raise questions about how our European and national administrations will answer this demand.