In the Northern Hemisphere, canola (Brassica napus) is blooming now. And from the Southern Hemisphere, a new study just published in the Journal of Pollination Ecology, highlights the role of pollinators for this crop.
The research, carried out in Argentina, compared 3 different situations: pollinator exclusion, open pollination and honey bees only. The results showed that open pollination increased yields by about 20% and honey bees by 33%, compared to pollination exclusion.
These findings confirm the crucial role of pollinators in improving crop productivity and the honey bees’ efficiency. At the same time, canola could be an important source of nectar and pollen for pollinators. In addition, this crop can also support significant honey production. A clear example of how agriculture and beekeeping could benefit one another.

Go to the paper here.