by Malavika Vyawahare on 11 March 2021 A new study shows that high-income countries place enormous demands on developing countries’ by importing crops that rely heavily on pollinators. The researchers apply the principle of Virtual Water, where goods are seen not just as movements of things but also of raw materials and services, in this case of pollinators. A growing demand in places like the U.S. and Europe for healthier diets, rich in fruits and beans, is also putting pressure on scarce pollination services. Pollination services may be free, but there are hidden costs to maintaining them, and it is communities in developing countries who pay them, the study suggests.