Urban Diets and the Pollinator Challenge

Pollination must be given due consideration in state horticulture planning. Pollinator support should be integrated into farming systems and mainstreamed through policy and public awareness.

Lessons from failing pollination in apple orchards in Himachal Pradesh underscore the urgency of this approach. The region is now implementing practices such as planting flowering strips to restore pollinator health.

Research indicates that proximity to wild habitats bolsters pollinator diversity and abundance. However, since not all farms can be located near forests, dedicated ‘set-aside’ areas and hedgerows can help create pollinator reserves within agricultural areas and orchards. Current efforts focus on installing bee boxes that cater to just one or two species of honey bees, overlooking the importance of supporting a wider variety of pollinators, including solitary and stingless bees.

Further, climate change-driven alterations can disrupt crucial plant-pollinator linkages by affecting key variables in the complex interplay between phenology, pollination services and disease transmission. This makes proactive planning even more critical.

In today’s globalised world, changing tastes are a reality, and the entry of exotic foods into our markets and diets is inevitable. The culture of food, after all, is constantly evolving, much like language, lifestyle, or fashion.

Foods such as potato, chilli and tomato, which are considered integral to traditional Indian cooking, were once foreign introductions. It is often difficult to draw hard lines between what is considered ‘native’, what is not, and to decide exactly when a crop has become naturalised.

Growing exotics locally may help decrease food miles, reduce carbon footprint, and support local livelihoods. However, unless guided through ecologically informed strategies, it can have unintended consequences.

Ultimately, food choices are personal, but it is important that consumers make those choices with a full understanding of their broader ecological and social implications.

The rise of exotic foods in Indian cities is not just a story of changing tastes and market trends, but also one of vital ecological interdependencies. As we embrace new foods and farming opportunities, we must also recognise and support the unseen allies that enable them.

Chethana V Casiker, Sunil GM is a project consultant with Atree, Pavan K Naik is also a project consultant with the organisation. M Soubadra Devy is a senior research fellow in resilient urbanscapes at Atree. Views expressed are the author’s own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth.

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