NEW YORK / US, 25 April 2025: A sweeping new study by Binghamton University reveals that agricultural intensification may be the top driver of global insect decline—but it's far from the only one. In fact, the root causes form a complex, interconnected web of over 3,000 pathways, according to the research published in BioScience.
Led by postdoctoral researcher Christopher Halsch, the team reviewed over 175 scientific meta-analyses and reviews, surfacing more than 500 hypotheses on what’s contributing to the global drop in insect biodiversity. From pesticides and pollution to climate extremes and urban expansion, the network highlights how stressors are deeply interlinked.
“Instead of surveying hundreds of scientists, we systematically reviewed their work to map the ‘causal pathways’ of insect loss,” said Halsch. “Agriculture leads to pollution, which leads to decline. But these chains interact in surprising ways.”
While intensive farming practices, especially the use of insecticides and land-use changes, emerged as the most frequently cited threats, the study stresses that many overlooked factors—like natural disasters—deserve greater attention.
“Eliminating a single driver won't reverse the decline,” noted co-author Eliza Grames, who previously reported a 20% butterfly decline in the U.S. “The system is synergistic. Climate, land use, pollution, and other stressors amplify one another.”
The research serves as a wake-up call for conservation efforts, highlighting the need to address insect decline through a holistic, systems-thinking approach rather than isolated fixes.
Image credit: shaastramag.iitm.ac.in
