Pollinator Day

Pollinator Day at UTRGV is an annual celebration held each spring at the Pollinator Cantina on the Brownsville Campus. The event highlights the vital role of pollinators bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, in sustaining ecosystems, supporting food production, and enriching the Rio Grande Valley’s biodiversity. It also serves as a platform for the Office for Sustainability to showcase its Bee Campus USA Annual Report and share updates on pollinator garden enhancements across both the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses.

View the latest Bee Campus USA Annual Report:

Pollinators contribute an estimated $235–$577 billion annually to global food production, yet their populations face serious threats from habitat loss, pesticide use, and disease. UTRGV’s Bee Campus USA designation reflects its proactive efforts to protect and restore pollinator habitats through education, research, and community engagement. The university’s approach aligns with the three pillars of sustainability:

• Environmentally, by planting native species and eliminating harmful pesticides.
• Economically, by supporting local vendors and pollinator-friendly industries during Pollinator Day.
• Socially, by fostering student involvement and public awareness.

Pollinator Day activities rotate each year and include:

• Tree plantings to enrich the Pollinator Cantina.
• Educational tabling, workshops, keynote speakers.
• Vendor showcases.
• A proclamation reading coordinated by the City of Brownsville.

Beyond the celebration, UTRGV’s commitment is ongoing—through signage, formal coursework, and collaborative research. Notably, Dr. Julie Mustard’s bee lab on the Brownsville campus offers students hands-on experience in honey bee behavior and neurobiology, with thriving hives supported by the adjacent garden.

To explore past reports and learn more about UTRGV’s pollinator initiatives, visit the: