Polyfly on the BBC: Innovation in Natural Pollination with Hoverflies
🎧 Listen to the full podcast on BBC Crowd Science.
The CrowdScience program by the BBC interviewed us in October. In this science communication podcast, we explained how Polyfly mass-rears hoverflies in our Almería facilities with the goal of enhancing pollination in high-value crops such as avocado, and contributing to producing more food using fewer resources.
From the Laboratory to the Field: Breeding and Pupal Production
At Polyfly, we have specialized in two hoverfly species – Queenfly and Goldfly – selected from more than six thousand species, which we rear under fully controlled conditions. This process covers the insect’s entire life cycle: adults, eggs, larvae, and pupae, from which the pollinating adults emerge.
The pupae are our final product. Part of them are used to renew breeding colonies, while the rest are packaged for use in crops worldwide.
“Pollination can be measured. We collect data and compare yields over several seasons to demonstrate the impact of hoverflies in the field,” explains our CEO, Marc Vaez-Olivera.
Why Pollinate with Hoverflies
Pollination can be quantified. As scientists and engineers by nature, we aim to scientifically demonstrate that hoverflies can measurably increase yields. “We have worked with several crops over multiple seasons and across different regions, because pollination is a complex equation: crop yield depends not only on pollination, but also on factors such as climate, pests, stress, and nutrient availability.” It takes time to validate the results. But we have already done it — and in some cases, we have managed to double avocado production in commercial orchards,” explains Marc.
The results are clear: in crops like avocado, we have observed significant yield improvements, sometimes even doubling total production.
Beyond bees, which are the most common pollinators alongside bumblebees, hoverflies stand out for their efficiency in protected environments and their ability to work under challenging conditions — with Queenfly performing well in cooler climates and Goldfly thriving at higher temperatures. Their use helps increase fruit set, improve fruit uniformity, and ensure more stable and sustainable production.
Producing More with Less Through Hoverfly Pollination
In a global context where the goal is to produce more with less, efficient pollination stands out as one of the most powerful natural solutions to drive sustainable agriculture. Optimizing pollen transfer and fruit set makes it possible to increase productivity without expanding cultivated land, improving efficiency per hectare and reducing pressure on natural resources.
Our interview with the BBC reinforces what we have been demonstrating in the field for years: hoverflies are essential allies of modern agriculture.
Through research and innovation, at Polyfly we continue to work so that natural pollination becomes a key tool for sustainable food production worldwide.