The importance of contract pollination in ensuring food security and sustainability of agroecosystems in southern Russia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31279/ABNC-2026-16-3-116Keywords:
food security, beekeeping, contract pollination, honey bees, entomophilous crops, sunflower, mobile bee complexes, digital technologiesAbstract
Introduction. Pollination activity by honey bees is a critical factor in ensuring food security and the resilience of agroecosystems. Over the past thirty years, Russia has experienced a negative trend in honey‐bee colony numbers, resulting in a pollination deficit. There is therefore an urgent need to develop an organizational and economic framework for the effective management of bee pollination services.
Aim. To provide a scientific justification and to develop organizational and technological solutions for the expansion of contract‐based bee pollination of entomophilous crops in areas of intensive agricultural production.
Materials and methods. Using monographic and statistical methods, we analyzed scientific sources and temporal trends in crop areas and honey‐bee colony numbers. A comparative geographical approach was employed to synthesize regional patterns in apiary placement and contract pollination practices across the constituent territories of the Southern and North Caucasian Federal Districts. Economic and statistical techniques were applied to assess the cost‐effectiveness of contract pollination. A system analysis was carried out to identify the factors affecting pollination efficiency and to determine avenues for improving the performance of contracted pollination services.
Results. The study offers a comprehensive rationale for the transition from the current practice of spontaneous, non‐contractual pollination towards an institutionalized service‐based model. Systemic barriers to the development of contract pollination are identified, and mechanisms for overcoming them are proposed. In addition, principles are elaborated for the integration of mobile pavilion‑type bee colonies and digital platforms into the pollination management system, and the scaling parameters for the contract model at the macro‑regional level are defined.
Conclusion. The proposed contract pollination model was validated in six regions of southern Russia. The approaches developed allow the pollination deficit to be alleviated, contribute to additional crop yields, and enhance the sustainability of agroecosystems across the macro region. To further advance contract pollination, it is recommended to establish regional digital platforms, scale up the production of mobile bee units to reduce labor inputs, and incorporate bee pollination services into the state support system for the agricultural sector.
To cite: Komlatsky G.V., Tereshchenko G.A., Komlatskaya M.G. The importance of contract pollination in ensuring food security and sustainability of agroecosystems in southern Russia. Agrarian Bulletin of the North Caucasus. 2026;16(3). https://doi.org/10.31279/ABNC- 2026-16-3-116
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Copyright (c) 2026 Григорий Васильевич Комлацкий, Галина Алексеевна Терещенко , Мария Григорьевна Комлацкая
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