Pollinators are the unsung heroes of agriculture, quietly sustaining ecosystems and food systems alike. But how do we protect them in landscapes dominated by intensive farming? This is the question that drove a SHOWCASE early-career researcher, Gabriella Bishop, from Wageningen University towards her field of PhD research - a journey into the heart of pollinator conservation in agricultural areas.
The Big Question: How can we better conserve pollinators in agricultural areas?
Gabriella’s research tackled the complex challenge of improving pollinator conservation in farming systems. Europe has a long tradition of intertwining conservation and agriculture, with a growing trend in finance towards investment in making farming more sustainable. And yet, despite the progress in knowledge on the effects of farming on biodiversity and the adoption of some new management strategies to tackle the challenges, real-world results for farmland biodiversity conservation and restoration remain limited.
“Pollinators are one of the most important species groups to farming systems”, Gabriella explains. Hence, they have a central role in both the ecological aspect and in terms of European nature restoration legislation. Gabriella’s work aims to deepen our understanding of how we can move from knowledge to effective action.
Zooming in and out: From fields to landscapes
At the core of Gabriella’s thesis is an exploration of biodiversity-friendly practices, both on individual farms and across entire landscapes.
“I started my PhD with a field-level focus and I was thinking about specific farmland interventions, which is a major pillar of the Showcase project”, she outlines. Over time, she adopted a broader landscape-level perspective on agriculture, recognising the need for regional farmer cooperation and large-scale policy-making to promote biodiversity. She adds that “by the end of [her] PhD, [she] had experience with asking the types of questions that get at the challenges surrounding conservation from the local to the international scale”.
Her research looked at specific field-level techniques, like planting lupin and hedgerows, and zoomed out to consider broader landscape needs for pollinators - like where and when they find floral resources.
The key takeaway? High-quality field-level interventions can boost biodiversity, but their effects are often limited to a few common, service-providing species. To truly conserve pollinator diversity, more attention must be directed towards semi-natural habitats - low-intensity grasslands or unmanaged field margins. Ensuring these habitats cover at least 15–18% of agricultural landscapes could be a game changer.
What does this mean for farmers and policymakers?
Gabriella’s findings send a hopeful message to farmers: “My results support that they can make a difference, even if small, by incorporating biodiversity-friendly farming techniques or by setting aside a small proportion of their farmland for nature”. For policymakers and land managers, her research supports setting clear thresholds—like the 15–18% semi-natural habitat threshold—to guide effective pollinator conservation on a broader scale.
Lupin and the role of crop diversity
A standout element of Gabriella’s research was her study on lupin (Lupinus), a mass-flowering legume with rising popularity in Dutch farming movements like Lekker Lupine! In Gabriella’s view, lupin offered the perfect mix of practical relevance and scientific intrigue. Could planting a visually striking, pollen-rich crop help support pollinators?
The answer was yes -but with nuance. As she mentions, “[her and her team] knew that as a large-flowered legume, there was potential for lupin to support more rare and declining bumblebees”, which is what her research in South Limburg, where she partnered with local farmers, found, likely due to within-season colony growth.
However, only 14 of 111 recorded bee species visited lupin, showing that mass-flowering crops have limited reach as a conservation tool. The results support using diverse flowering crops rather than relying on any single species - and they reinforce the critical role of permanent, high-diversity habitats in agricultural biodiversity.
Challenges, discoveries and evolving perspectives
Like all true research, Gabriella’s PhD didn’t go exactly as planned. Initially focused on specific field interventions, her work gradually expanded to embrace a landscape-level perspective and the importance of farmer cooperation and regional planning. This broadened lens helped her connect practical management with large-scale policy-making.
One area she would approach differently? Looking back, she reflects: “I wish I could have incorporated more into my research that specifically the farmers were interested in. I didn’t necessarily have the time or expertise to do so, as managing the ecological side of the research on my own or with the help of a student was already quite intensive. It would have been nice to incorporate some of the farmer’s questions into the design from the onset, so that we would have more concrete information at the end”.
Beyond the thesis: Advice and aspirations
Gabriella’s interest in pollinators began during her undergraduate studies, sparked by watching hummingbirds pollinate flowers with perfect precision. That fascination evolved into a deeper commitment to food systems and ecological relationships - ultimately landing her in the world of bees and agriculture.
She describes the PhD journey as one of “learning how to learn”. She now understands, “that that is what makes a good researcher”.
What is her advice to future PhD students you may ask?
“Your PhD is yours and yours alone. So make sure it is you who is satisfied with your work and you who finds the topic fun and engaging. And it should be those things - satisfying, engaging, and most of all, fun!”
Looking ahead, Gabriella hopes her research will inspire continued focus on agricultural biodiversity and the valuable species that share these landscapes with us.
Making space for biodiversity: Practical steps forward
Gabriella’s research findings also highlight several actionable ideas that would help make more space for biodiversity on farmland.
- Promote crop diversity and rotational diversity, including mass-flowering species;
- Reduce management intensity in field margins and grasslands to avoid species-poor dominance;
- Improve habitat quality with diverse seed mixes and reduced fertilisation;
- Conserve semi-natural habitats across farmed landscapes—not just in isolated pockets.
In short, Gabriella summarises that “when specifically choosing what to plant, farmers should ideally aim to increase crop diversity, or rotational diversity”. The future of biodiversity-friendly farming isn’t just about planting the right crop. It’s about rethinking how entire landscapes are managed -through collaboration, thoughtful design and a commitment to both production and nature.