Hedgerow benefits align with food production and sustainability goals

Restoring hedgerows, or other field edge plantings, to provide habitat for bees and other beneficial insects on farms is needed to sustain global food production in intensive agricultural systems. Field studies in the Sacramento Valley, California highlighted that hedgerows can enhance pest control and pollination services in adjacent crops, resulting in a return on investment within 7 to 16 years after planting, without negatively impacting crops from wildlife intrusion or food safety issues. To encourage hedgerow and other habitat restoration practices on farms, increased outreach, technical guidance, and continued policy support for conservation programs is imperative in agriculture.