Honey bees are essential pollinators, responsible for around 75% of flowering plants and 35% of food crops worldwide. Without them, global food systems and biodiversity would face serious threats. However, honey bee populations have been in decline due to poor nutrition, habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. In response, researchers from Washington State University (WSU) and APIX Biosciences in Belgium have developed a groundbreaking solution—a synthetic, pollen-replacing food. This innovation, detailed in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, could sustain honey bee colonies long-term and prevent further colony collapse, ensuring the stability of pollination services.
The Crisis Facing Honey Bees
Honey bee populations have been on the decline for several years, driven by a variety of environmental stressors. Researchers have long known that poor nutrition is a significant contributor to this decline. Wildflowers and natural habitats that bees rely on are shrinking due to urban expansion, agricultural intensification, and climate change. This disruption has resulted in limited access to high-quality pollen, which bees need to thrive. Despite being generalists that collect pollen from various plant species, honey bees face increasing difficulty in obtaining a continuous supply of nutritious food. “Honey bees are generalists and do not get all their nutrition from a single source,” said Brandon Hopkin, a co-author of the study. “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.”
With colonies under immense nutritional stress, scientists have been forced to look beyond traditional hive management methods. The urgent need for a solution has sparked a race to create synthetic alternatives that can fill the nutritional gaps caused by dwindling natural pollen sources.
A Breakthrough in Bee Nutrition
The solution presented by WSU and APIX Biosciences is a game-changing innovation: a human-made superfood that mimics the essential nutrients found in natural pollen. This specially designed diet, which resembles nutrient-rich “power bars,” is being tested for its potential to replace traditional pollen sources altogether. During trials, the colonies that received this artificial diet showed remarkable improvements in health, growth, and survival, even in environments with subpar pollen quality, such as blueberry fields. Patrick Pilkington, CEO of APIX Biosciences US, emphasized the uniqueness of the development, stating, “Until this study, honey bees were the only livestock that could not be maintained on a (human-made) feed.” The significance of this innovation is profound because it could help ensure bee populations remain stable, even in areas where natural pollen is sparse.
The food bars are placed inside the hives, where young bees process and distribute the nutrients to larvae and adults, ensuring that the entire colony benefits. This strategy tackles the growing issue of poor nutrition that has long plagued honey bee survival. By providing every essential nutrient, this artificial feed is designed to sustain bees in conditions where natural sources are inadequate or unavailable.
A Decade of Research and Collaboration
The development of this groundbreaking feed was no small feat. It involved over a decade of research and collaboration among multiple teams. Thierry Bogaert, the lead author of the study, highlighted the enormity of the effort, saying, “The newly published work is the result of a Herculean scientific effort of three teams. First, the founders and scientists of APIX Biosciences who tested thousands of combinations of ingredients on honey bees over more than 10 years to create this feed.”
Additionally, WSU provided invaluable expertise in honey bee ecology, while beekeepers in California contributed to large-scale field testing. Together, these efforts ensured that the final product was not only effective but practical for use in real-world agricultural settings. The trials demonstrated that colonies fed the new diet performed significantly better than those relying on current feeding practices, proving the food’s potential to revolutionize bee management.
The Real-World Impact of This Innovation
One of the most striking applications of this new bee food is its potential to revive struggling pollination industries. Beekeepers, particularly those working in crops like blueberries, have long struggled with low colony survival rates, especially when pollen quality is poor. As Hopkin explained, “Some beekeepers don’t pollinate blueberries anymore because colonies suffer or die and the pollination fees don’t cover the losses.” With the introduction of this artificial food, beekeepers may find that their colonies are more resilient and able to thrive in environments where they previously could not. This could help restore pollination services to areas with low-quality pollen, allowing beekeepers to return to crops they had abandoned.
“The product will positively impact beekeepers and growers once it’s available to purchase in the U.S., targeted for mid-2026,” Pilkington said, signaling that the breakthrough will soon be available to the broader agricultural community. The feed’s potential to enhance bee survival could lead to more stable pollination services, benefiting not only beekeepers but also farmers and food systems at large.
A Step Toward Sustainable Pollination
This innovation is more than just a stopgap solution—it represents a step toward sustainable pollination practices that can help preserve the essential role of honey bees in global food systems. By ensuring that honey bees receive the nutrition they need, this new food could help reduce the heavy losses that beekeepers experience each year, safeguarding agricultural productivity.
Looking ahead, the collaboration between WSU, APIX Biosciences, and the beekeeping community will be crucial for refining and scaling this solution. “We are working with WSU and the beekeeping community across the U.S. to develop the best way to make use of this new tool in agricultural settings,” Pilkington said. By addressing the nutritional gaps in honey bee diets, this breakthrough offers a promising solution for the long-term health of bee populations and the security of global food production.
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