Professor Nigel Raine has been appointed as Canada’s first Research Chair in Pollinator Conservation at the University of Guelph to lead a multi-disciplinary effort to protect essential insects. His work focuses on the interconnected threats facing bees, including chronic pesticide exposure, loss of floral diversity, and the spread of diseases. Through his research, Raine highlights how sublethal stressors can impair foraging behavior and jeopardize the long-term survival of both social and solitary bee species. Beyond laboratory study, he aims to influence public policy and land management by encouraging habitat creation along infrastructure corridors and agricultural borders. This initiative seeks to balance food security with environmental health by fostering collaboration between government, industry, and conservationists. Ultimately, the program strives to develop innovative solutions that safeguard pollinators as vital contributors to global ecosystems.
