A groundbreaking study published in Nature reveals the direct and vital role that insect pollinators play in supporting the diets and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Nepal. Prof. Dr. Dayaram Bhusal at Central Department of Zoolgy, Tribhuvan University contributed on researchers tracked individual-level diets, crop yields, farming income, and plant-pollinator interactions across replicate communities in Jumla District. They found that pollinators are responsible for 44% of people's farming income and more than 20% of their intake of key micronutrients like vitamin A, folate, and vitamin E.

The study establishes clear mechanistic links from specific pollinator species to human nutrition. Native semi-domesticated honeybee Apis cerana emerged as particularly important, contributing notably to vitamin A, folate, and calcium intake. Wild pollinators, including bumblebees and hoverflies, provided the majority of pollen transport services. These interactions were mapped in a network connecting pollinators, crops, and nutrient flows to individual families, offering the first empirical evidence of this kind.

Declines in local pollinator populations are projected to worsen poverty and micronutrient deficiencies—often called "hidden hunger"—in these vulnerable communities. With around one-quarter of the global population already affected by such deficiencies, and smallholders heavily reliant on pollinator-dependent crops, the findings highlight risks of increased malnutrition, illness, and economic losses. The research in Nepal serves as a representative model for smallholder systems worldwide.

Conversely, the study demonstrates that enhancing pollination services can deliver significant benefits. Abundant pollinators such as native honeybees, bumblebees, and hoverflies are most effective at sustaining nutrient flows. Targeted management, including supporting wild plants that provide food for pollinators outside crop flowering seasons, could improve both nutrition and household income.

Key supporting plants identified include certain agricultural weeds, wild shrubs, and ornamental species that can be grown in field margins and gardens at low cost. Combined with practices like reduced pesticide use and native beekeeping, these interventions offer practical, accessible solutions for resource-limited farmers. The approach empowers local communities to assess and implement strategies suited to their contexts. Making ecosystem services tangible through detailed species-to-people linkages, the research provides a scalable framework for linking biodiversity conservation with human health and welfare. Applied more broadly, it could help guide sustainable interventions to support millions of smallholders globally, countering biodiversity loss while improving lives.