Collaborative research and engagement with farmers interested in pollinator-friendly farming

Many of the threats facing pollinators are prevalent in agricultural lands including habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and interactions with non-native organisms. Pollinator conservation requires research and action to take place in the landscapes where threats are likely to occur. This should be done through collaboration with the land managers responsible for the implementation of practises that are found to be beneficial to pollinators. I will discuss important considerations when looking to collaborate with farmers on research and the implementation of pollinator-friendly farming practises including crop- and location-specific research and planning. I will then present the results of a research study conducted in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada looking at bee conservation in vineyard agroecosystems. Through collaboration with over 25 grape growers and wineries in the region, we aimed to determine the vineyard management practises and surrounding land-use variables that support abundant and diverse bee communities. I will reflect on the challenges and successes experienced when disseminating the research results with grape growers in the region. Collaborative research is necessary when looking to improve our understanding of pollinator-friendly farming and requires engagement with the farming community throughout the many stages of planning, data collection, and sharing results.