Avocado alert as popular fruit's future in doubt warns new study
A new study has issued a warning that avocados could disappear from our plates if native vegetation doesn't survive alongside crops. Avocado trees, originally from Mexico and Central America, are now cultivated in various parts of the globe, including Australia.
Australian scientists have discovered that the survival of avocado crops may hinge on preserving patches of native vegetation near farmland. The research, published in the journal Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, highlights the crucial role these habitats play in sustaining the insects vital for crop pollination and maintaining our brunch menus.
The team from Curtin University found that insect communities in avocado orchards next to native remnant vegetation fed on more than double the number of plant species during periods of limited crop flowering, compared to those in orchards bordered by pasture, reports Surrey Live.
Avocado future and crop pollination
They explained that insects with a diverse diet are more likely to survive and pollinate crops, suggesting a potential strategy to ensure global food security. With estimates suggesting that up to 10 billion people worldwide will need access to safe and nutritious food by 2050, agricultural productivity may need to increase by as much as 75%.
Lead researcher Dr Joshua Kestel, who carried out the work during his PhD studies at Curtin, described the study as "particularly compelling" since it had historically been challenging to measure the variety of pollen gathered by complete insect populations - especially across expansive farming regions.
He said: "Using a novel method pioneered at Curtin University, we applied a cutting-edge biodiversity assessment technique - environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding - to pan traps to identify the diversity of pollen transported by entire insect communities collected during sampling. This approach allowed us to demonstrate that natural vegetation adjacent to orchards may enhance the resilience of insect communities, potentially contributing to greater food security."
'Healthy insect communities are needed'
Co-researcher Professor Paul Nevill, from Curtin's School of Molecular and Life Sciences, described the findings as crucial given that insects are responsible for pollinating 75% of all farming crops, despite many species facing extinction threats. He said: "In order to meet the food needs of the planet, diverse and healthy insect communities play a critical role in supporting essential ecosystem services such as pollination and the biological control of pests.
"In Australia alone, an estimated 320,000 insect species exist, yet only 35% have been formally identified - and the plant resources many of them rely on remain largely unknown." He added: "By using sophisticated eDNA metabarcoding capable of detecting the trace of a single grain of pollen or even the footprint of a bee, we're helping to close these knowledge gaps and better understand how these insects might contribute to safeguarding global food security."
The scientists gathered over 2,000 insect samples and pinpointed more than 250 plant varieties through eDNA analysis, encompassing crops, weeds and indigenous Australian vegetation. The research team suggested integrating standardised biodiversity assessments into routine agricultural monitoring, preserving ecosystems through recognising the importance of natural plant life and replanting barren areas within farming operations.
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