A new pollen substitute developed by researchers at Washington State University and APIX Biosciences could be a game-changer for honey bee health—and that’s good news for all of us. As highlighted in a recent article on the Good News Network, this “power bar” for bees is packed with the nutrients they need to survive and thrive, even when natural pollen is hard to find.
Why does this matter? Honey bees are essential for pollinating many of the crops we rely on every day—fruits, vegetables, nuts, and more. But with habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change taking a toll, bee colonies have been struggling. One of the biggest challenges is simply feeding them. This new pollen substitute offers a way to keep colonies strong, even when flowers aren’t blooming.
Of course, this solution mainly helps managed bee populations. Wild bees—of which there are over 20,000 species—still need our support through conservation and habitat restoration.
Still, it’s a hopeful step. Supporting pollinators means supporting our food systems, ecosystems, and future. Here’s to more science-backed solutions that help both nature and agriculture thrive.
“Honey bees are generalists and do not get all their nutrition from a single source. They need variety in their diet to survive but find it increasingly difficult to find the continuous supply of pollen they need to sustain the colony.” “Until this study, honey bees were the only livestock that could not be maintained on a man-made feed,” said Dr. Patrick Pilkington, CEO of APIX Biosciences US.
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