Assessing the value of pollination: comparing “old” and “new” dependence ratios in Spanish agriculture sector

• At the national level, the contribution of pollination increases when using the dependence coefficients of Siopa et al. (2024) compared to Gallai and Vaissière (2009) : from 8% to 10% in the minimum range, from 12% to 18% in the mean range, and from 16% to 25% in the maximum range. • Across Spain’s Autonomous Communities, the most pronounced changes occur in fruit- and vegetable-producing regions such as the Valencian Community, Murcia, Extremadura, Galicia, and Andalusia. • The most affected crops are those that present the greatest increment under the updated dependence ratios, such as citrus and tomatoes. • At a national level and across all valuation’s ranges, five crops account for 40–50% of the pollination-dependent production value. Pollination is a critical ecosystem service underpinning Spanish agriculture. Building on the revised dependence ratios (DRs) recently proposed by Siopa et al. (2024) , this study applies them to Spanish agriculture and systematically contrasts the results with estimates based on Gallaís DRs (2009), which have served as the standard reference for the past 17 years in many studies. Specifically, we address three questions: (i) how the updated coefficients differ from previous estimates, (ii) to what extent do these differences alter national and subnational valuations of pollination services, and (iii) which crops, and Autonomous Communities are most affected by the changes. Using official production, area, and price data for 35 crops across Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities (2010–2021), we estimated pollination-dependent gross production values. Results show that pollination’s contribution increases for the mean range rises from 12% (Gallaís DR) to 18% (Siopás DR) of total agricultural production value, equivalent to an average of €2.8–4 billion annually. The highest increases occur in the Valencian Community, Murcia, Extremadura, Galicia, and Andalusia, largely driven by higher updated coefficients for citrus and tomato crops, whereas Catalonia and Aragón show reductions due to lower coefficients in stone fruits (e.g., peaches, nectarines, plums). By making these comparisons explicit, the study offers fresh insights into pollination–crop relationships that were previously overlooked, enabling stakeholders to reassess their understanding of these linkages and facilitating more precise and up-to-date assessments to advance the valuation of pollination services.