Global Pollinator Platform, Digi Mart USA News (Rome, Italy): The Government of Mexico endorsed the creation of a Global Pollinator Platform during the Global Pollinator Conference organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome on November 5 and 6. The event brought together representatives of governments, international organizations and the scientific community to strengthen cooperation in protecting these species, which are crucial for biodiversity and food security.
Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, director of Cooperation and Implementation at the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), spoke on behalf of Alicia Bárcena, secretary of Environment and Natural Resources. He stressed the importance of protecting pollinating insects, birds and bats for agrifood systems and biodiversity conservation.
Benítez Díaz said the platform, promoted by the FAO, will facilitate coordination among bodies such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). He emphasized the need for specialized technical personnel and stable financial mechanisms to combat the loss of pollinators.
Conserving these insects, birds and bats is essential for food security, rural livelihoods and meeting Targets 10, 11 and 14 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Benítez Díaz also called for stronger collaboration between the agricultural and environmental sectors, the private sector, Indigenous peoples and local communities, under FAO leadership.
Mexico’s participation in the conference reflects its track record in public policy for pollinator conservation, including the National Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Pollinators (ENCUSP). The strategy involves the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), CONABIO, state and local governments, academia, research centers, civil society, farmers, beekeepers and citizens.
It links pollinator protection with food security, restoration and sustainable development.
Among national actions, SADER has taken regulatory measures to gradually prohibit high-risk pesticides such as aldicarb, carbofuran, endosulfan and DDT. CONABIO promotes the POLINIZA initiative, which encourages citizen participation through the creation of pollinator habitats, monitoring activities and education.
SEMARNAT supports the Semillatón por los Polinizadores, which is rehabilitating habitats on the Yucatán Peninsula with the participation of communities and institutions.
Internationally, Mexico participates in networks including Promote Pollinators, Poli-LAC and the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, which facilitate the exchange of experiences and link national efforts with international standards.
With its participation in Rome, Mexico reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation and to an environmental policy that integrates science, government action and community participation to halt the loss of pollinators, protect biodiversity and contribute to global food security.
