https://agrospectrumasia.com/rssfeed/livestock/apiculture%20%28beekeeping%29 apiculture (beekeeping) https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/4039/bees-biodiversity-and-esg-new-sustainability-imperative.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/4039/bees-biodiversity-and-esg-new-sustainability-imperative.html Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:12:14 +0530 As biodiversity risks rise across Asia's agricultural heartlands, pollinator health is emerging as a critical metric for food security, climate resilience, supply-chain stability and ESG performance On a spring morning in Vietnam's Central Highlands, a coffee farmer walks through rows of flowering coffee trees. The blossoms are brief, delicate and fleeting. For a few precious days, millions of tiny white flowers carpet the landscape, carrying within them the promise of next season's harvest. The farmer knows the rains matter. He knows temperatures matter. He knows fertilizer prices matter. What he may not fully realise is that the future of his crop also depends on a workforce that arrives silently each morning and leaves without sending an invoice. The bees. Thousands of kilometres away, the same quiet drama unfolds across Asia. In China's apple orchards, India's mustard fields, Thailand's tropical fruit plantations, Indonesia's cocoa farms and the oilseed-growing regions of Central Asia, billions of pollinators move from flower to flower, performing one of the most valuable yet least visible economic functions in modern agriculture. They are neither listed on company balance sheets nor tracked in commodity markets. Yet their daily labour supports food systems worth hundreds of billions of dollars, sustains rural livelihoods, underpins agricultural exports and helps maintain the biodiversity upon which entire ecosystems depend. For decades, pollinators occupied the margins of policy discussions. Climate change dominated environmental debates. Carbon emissions became the defining sustainability metric. Biodiversity, though acknowledged, was often treated as a secondary concern. That era is rapidly coming to an end. As climate shocks intensify, supply chains become more fragile and investors increasingly scrutinise nature-related risks, bees are emerging as a powerful symbol of a broader transformation taking place across global agriculture. The conversation is no longer simply about reducing emissions or improving productivity. It is about protecting the ecological infrastructure that makes food production possible in the first place. Nowhere is this more relevant than in Asia. Home to nearly 60 per cent of the world's population and the largest agricultural economy on the planet, Asia sits at the centre of a growing paradox. The region must simultaneously produce more food, strengthen climate resilience and preserve biodiversity. At the heart of that challenge lies an often-overlooked reality: without healthy pollinator populations, the future of agriculture itself becomes increasingly uncertain. That is why bees are no longer just an environmental story. They are rapidly becoming an economic story, a food security story and, increasingly, one of the most important ESG stories of the decade. Asia's Pollinator Powerhouse The scale of Asia's relationship with pollinators becomes apparent when viewed through the lens of global apiculture. According to estimates from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global honey bee population reached approximately 101.7 million colonies in 2024, representing a 46.6 per cent increase from 69.4 million colonies in 1990. At the heart of this expansion lies Asia. The continent today hosts approximately 45.2 million honey bee colonies, accounting for nearly 45 per cent of the global total and making it by far the world's largest reservoir of managed pollinators. Europe, by comparison, houses 25.4 million colonies, while Africa accounts for 18.5 million and the Americas 11.6 million. Even more remarkable is the pace of growth. Asia's managed bee population has nearly doubled over the past three decades, rising from 23.1 million colonies in 1990 to 45.2 million in 2024. Western Asia recorded a staggering 207.4 per cent increase in bee colonies during this period, while Southeast Asia expanded by 203.9 per cent. Central Asia grew by 148.1 per cent, Southern Asia by 84.1 per cent and Eastern Asia by 43.8 per cent. These figures tell a larger story about the evolution of Asian agriculture. As farming systems have diversified beyond staple grains into horticulture, fruits, vegetables, nuts, spices and plantation crops, the economic value of pollination services has increased dramatically. Every additional bee colony represents not only honey production but also enhanced crop productivity, improved quality and stronger farm incomes. The honey economy itself reflects Asia's dominance. Global honey production reached approximately 2 million tonnes in 2024. China remained the world's largest producer with 456,000 tonnes, while India ranked second with 146,000 tonnes. Together, the two countries accounted for more than 30 per cent of global honey production, reinforcing Asia's position as the centre of the world's apiculture economy. The Pollination Economy Few Balance Sheets Capture Pollination is among the most valuable ecosystem services on the planet, yet it remains largely invisible in traditional economic accounting. The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that approximately 75 per cent of global food crops depend, at least partially, on pollination. In Asia, that dependence is particularly pronounced because much of the continent's agricultural value comes from pollinator-dependent crops rather than cereals alone. China's apple orchards, Vietnam's coffee plantations, Thailand's fruit exports, Indonesia's cocoa farms, India's mustard fields and Malaysia's tropical fruit industry all rely heavily on healthy pollinator populations. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), pollinator-dependent crops contribute between $235 billion and $577 billion annually to global agricultural production. A substantial share of this value originates in Asia. Yet pollination remains one of the world's largest unpaid economic services. It does not appear on company balance sheets. It is rarely incorporated into commodity pricing models. It remains largely absent from agricultural policy discussions. The result is a striking paradox: some of the world's most valuable economic assets continue to operate without formal recognition. The Great Biodiversity Contradiction Despite record numbers of managed honey bee colonies, pollinator ecosystems are facing unprecedented pressure. The rise in managed bee populations can create a misleading impression that pollinator health is improving. Scientists increasingly caution that honey bees represent only one component of a much broader pollinator network that includes wild bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, beetles, birds and bats. Many of these species are declining. Across Asia, rapid urbanisation, agricultural intensification, habitat fragmentation and pesticide exposure are reshaping landscapes at extraordinary speed. The region's agricultural success has undoubtedly improved food availability and rural incomes, but it has often come at the expense of ecological diversity. Monoculture farming systems have expanded, natural habitats have contracted and pollinator-friendly landscapes have steadily disappeared. Climate change is intensifying these pressures. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and shifting flowering seasons are disrupting the delicate synchronisation between plants and pollinators that underpins agricultural productivity. Scientists warn that these disruptions could reduce both pollinator abundance and pollination efficiency across some of Asia's most important food-producing regions. The paradox is striking. The world has never managed more honey bee colonies, yet the biodiversity systems that sustain pollination are becoming increasingly fragile. Why Investors Are Finally Paying Attention For much of the past decade, ESG conversations focused overwhelmingly on carbon emissions. Carbon could be measured. Energy use could be quantified. Climate targets could be benchmarked. Biodiversity, by contrast, often appeared too complex and difficult to translate into financial metrics. That perception is changing rapidly. The emergence of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) signals a broader shift in how investors view environmental risk. Nature loss is increasingly recognised as a material financial issue capable of disrupting supply chains, reducing productivity and undermining long-term asset values. For businesses operating across Asia's agricultural economy, pollinator decline is becoming a direct commercial concern. A coffee company sourcing from Vietnam, a cocoa processor operating in Indonesia, a fruit exporter in Thailand or a supermarket chain dependent on fresh produce all rely on healthy pollinator ecosystems. When pollinators decline, production becomes less predictable. Yields fluctuate. Input costs rise. Supply chains become more vulnerable. What was once considered an environmental concern increasingly resembles a business continuity risk. In this context, bees have become more than ecological indicators. They are emerging as barometers of agricultural resilience and ESG performance. The Business of Bees Is Growing The commercial importance of pollination is also reflected in the growth of the global apiculture sector itself. The global apiculture market is estimated to reach $13.32 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $17.15 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1 per cent. Rising honey consumption, growing demand for bee-derived products and increasing recognition of pollination's economic value are driving investment across the sector. Notably, Asia-Pacific remains the world's largest apiculture market, while North America is emerging as the fastest-growing region. Yet honey sales tell only part of the story. The true economic value of bees lies not in the products they generate but in the agricultural productivity they enable. Pollination remains the invisible infrastructure underpinning food systems across the continent. From Biodiversity to Business Strategy Asia's challenge is no longer simply about protecting bees. It is about protecting the ecosystems that make pollination possible. As the region grapples with climate change, population growth, resource scarcity and rising food demand, biodiversity can no longer remain a peripheral sustainability issue. It must become a core component of agricultural strategy, corporate governance and investment decision-making. Protecting pollinators requires preserving habitats, encouraging regenerative farming, reducing landscape fragmentation and integrating nature-positive practices into agricultural value chains. It also requires expanding ESG frameworks beyond carbon to recognise biodiversity as a critical form of natural capital. The future of Asian agriculture will not be determined solely by how much food can be produced. It will increasingly depend on how effectively natural systems can be protected while production continues to grow. Infact few natural systems matter more than pollination. For decades, bees have quietly sustained Asia's agricultural rise. Today, they are sending a message that investors, policymakers and agribusiness leaders can no longer afford to ignore: the future of food security, climate resilience and sustainable growth may depend as much on biodiversity as it does on technology, capital or productivity. In the emerging ESG era, protecting bees is no longer just an environmental responsibility. It is becoming an economic necessity. -- Suchetana Choudhury (suchetana.choudhuri@agrospectrumindia.com) ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/3912/basf-expands-bee-health-strategy-through-partnership-with-nod-apiary-products.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/3912/basf-expands-bee-health-strategy-through-partnership-with-nod-apiary-products.html Fri, 15 May 2026 12:48:36 +0530 Innovative hive treatments aim to improve colony resilience while supporting responsible beekeeping practices Global chemical and agricultural solutions provider BASF has announced an expanded collaboration with Canadian bee health specialist NOD Apiary Products Ltd. aimed at strengthening honey bee health management and supporting sustainable beekeeping practices through science-based innovation. The partnership builds on an established supplier relationship between the two companies and reflects a shared commitment to improving pollinator resilience, which is increasingly recognized as essential to global food security and agricultural productivity. At the core of the collaboration is the continued development and deployment of Formic Pro, a formic acid–based hive treatment designed to help beekeepers manage parasitic mite infestations that threaten honey bee colonies worldwide. BASF’s Intermediates division supplies formic acid used in Formic Pro, while also providing funding and technical support to NOD Apiary Products as part of a broader effort to advance integrated bee health solutions. According to BASF, the initiative draws on expertise across its Performance Materials and Agricultural Solutions businesses, reinforcing the company’s growing focus on sustainability-driven agricultural inputs and ecosystem protection strategies. “Healthy pollinators are essential to agriculture and food production,” said Lauren Grech, Product Manager, Intermediates, BASF Americas. “By working closely with NOD Apiary Products, BASF is helping advance solutions that support beekeepers and help protect honey bee colonies.” Formic Pro is applied directly within the hive using strips made from BASF-developed ecoflex and ecovio materials, which are certified compostable and designed to align with environmentally responsible hive management practices. The system enables controlled release of formic acid vapor within the hive environment, allowing it to penetrate brood cells and disrupt the reproductive cycle of parasitic mites, thereby improving colony survival rates and overall hive health. NOD Apiary Products emphasized that the collaboration strengthens its ability to deliver science-based tools to beekeepers facing increasing biological and environmental pressures. “Our collaboration with BASF brings together complementary strengths,” said Heather Broccard-Bell, Honey Bee Health Researcher at NOD Apiary Products. “Their support and materials expertise help us continue our mission to deliver trusted, science-based solutions for beekeepers.” Honey bees are widely recognized as a critical component of global agriculture, contributing billions of dollars annually through crop pollination services across a broad range of food systems. Declines in pollinator health have therefore become a key concern for agricultural resilience and biodiversity conservation. Through this collaboration, BASF and NOD Apiary Products aim to enhance beekeeper tools, improve colony health outcomes, and support more resilient agricultural ecosystems worldwide, reinforcing the role of pollinators as a foundational element of sustainable food production systems. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/3287/greenlight-biosciences-launches-norroa-the-pioneering-rna-based-treatment-for-varroa-mites-in-apiculture.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/3287/greenlight-biosciences-launches-norroa-the-pioneering-rna-based-treatment-for-varroa-mites-in-apiculture.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 10:57:05 +0530 EPA registration paves the way for beekeepers to combat a critical threat to pollinator health GreenLight Biosciences announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) registration of Norroa™, the first-ever nature-based treatment specifically designed to combat varroa mites, the leading threat to honey bee colonies. This groundbreaking innovation provides beekeepers with a powerful new tool proven to protect these pollinators, which are critical to U.S. agriculture.   Norroa's active ingredient, vadescana, leverages RNA interference (RNAi), a natural biological process that precisely targets varroa mites and ultimately stops their reproduction. It is part of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee's (IRAC) Group 35, offering beekeepers a brand-new mode of action in the fight against these mites. The nucleic acids in the product are found in nature, and vadescana breaks down quickly in the environment. As pollinators and the broader agricultural ecosystem face challenges, the registration is timely. Recently analyzed data from the Honey Bee Health Coalition reveals staggering honey bee colony losses, with 1.7 million colonies lost and commercial beekeepers sustaining an average loss of 62% between June 2024 and March 2025. Underscored by USDA researchers, this alarming trend is related to the declining efficacy of existing miticides as varroa mites have developed resistance to chemical treatments once considered reliable. As mites are less controlled, they bring high virus loads into colonies, leading to loss. Experts warn of ripple effects that could disrupt food production, drive up farmer costs, and threaten the survival of commercial beekeeping operations. Entomologists at Washington State University project colony losses could rise to 70% in 2025 without substantive action. Mark Singleton, Chief Commercial Officer and General Manager at GreenLight Bio said "Norroa represents a breakthrough in honey bee protection from varroa mites, offering beekeepers an effective and easy-to-use tool that keeps mite populations down for up to 18 weeks, which is substantially longer than the existing products on the market. Norroa can be applied at any temperature, provided it's safe to open the hive, and has no negative impacts on brood, workers, or queens. Beekeepers have very few products available to them to control these destructive mites. We are proud to be bringing another tool to the fight against varroa." Andrey Zarur, Chief Executive Officer, GreenLight Bio said "This cutting-edge, American-made technology that brings important innovation to U.S. beekeepers by harnessing the precision of our proprietary technologies. We're providing beekeepers with an environmentally conscious solution that specifically and effectively targets one of the most devastating threats to honey bee health. Norroa is safe for the bees and preserves the beneficial biodiversity and ecosystem balance of the surrounding area, aligning with sustainable agricultural practices." Rigorous, replicated field trials conducted across multiple U.S. regions demonstrated extended mite control of up to 18 weeks, resulting in improved overall colony health. Researchers confirmed Norroa's performance against varroa mites and its safety for honey bees, humans, other insects, and the environment. As the first truly targeted mite control product ever developed, when Norroa is applied with low mite levels, it maintains them longer than anything else on the market. This results in healthier, stronger bees, and if timed right, can lead to more colonies surviving over the winter, which field data supports. Varroa mites, which can double their population every 30 days, have evolved resistance to many chemical treatments, leaving beekeepers with few reliable options and intensifying the search for innovative approaches. Without significant intervention, experts warn of dire consequences for U.S. agriculture, which relies on honey bee pollination for more than 100 crops valued at an estimated $20 billion annually. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/3188/korea-develops-honeyguard-r-the-first-gene-therapy-to-treat-honeybee-cyst-rot.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/3188/korea-develops-honeyguard-r-the-first-gene-therapy-to-treat-honeybee-cyst-rot.html Mon, 18 Aug 2025 08:45:00 +0530 Gene Therapy for Cyst Rot: A breakthrough in protecting honeybee populations and supporting beekeeping Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency ( APQA ) has developed the world's first honeybee cyst rot gene therapy drug ' Honey Guard -R liquid ' through joint research with Genolution Co., Ltd., and has entered full-scale commercialization following the acquisition of animal drug product approval in June 2024. Honeybee cyst rot is a viral disease that infects honeybee larvae, leading to death before they develop into pupae. It is highly contagious and causes significant damage, so it is designated as a Class 2 statutory livestock infectious disease and is managed. After it was first confirmed in domestic native bees in 2009, it spread nationwide, causing serious damage by 2011, with a decline of more than 75% of approximately 420,000 honeybee colonies. Until recently, there was no treatment available for beekeepers, so the need for development has been continuously raised. By using RNA interference (RNAi) technology, a commercialized gene therapy product has been shown to inhibit viral replication and improve the survival rate of honeybees by targeting the genetic sequence essential for the survival of the cystic rot virus. RNA interference technology uses double-stranded RNA ( dsRNA) as a core substance , and double-stranded RNA is broken down into small interfering RNA (siRNA) in the honeybee , which plays a role in blocking the expression of specific genes of the virus. A six-year emergency quarantine support program has proven to reduce cystic rot disease incidence by 96.2%. The successful commercialization of gene therapy through collaboration between the Quarantine Headquarters and Genolution Co. , Ltd. is a representative technology transfer achievement between a public research institute and a private company, and is significant in that it has provided an innovative turning point for responding to honeybee virus diseases by utilizing biotechnology - based RNA interference technology. Gene therapy based on RNA interference technology has had difficulties in commercialization due to technical limitations such as in-body delivery, restrictions on administration methods, and economical production methods. In response, the Quarantine Agency and Genolution Co. , Ltd. took advantage of the physiological characteristics of honeybees that deliver RNA interference effects throughout the body through oral administration, solved the problem of in-body delivery by mixing it with sugar water, and established an infrastructure for mass production of double-stranded RNA used as a key material, becoming the first in the world to obtain approval for a veterinary drug product. Gene therapy has now been commercialized and can be supplied to farmers, and it is expected that this will lead to increased agricultural productivity and economic benefits by reducing diseases in honeybees, which are pollinators of major crops . Meanwhile , Genolution Co., Ltd. is pursuing procurement and registration procedures to expand domestic supply and is also preparing for launch in overseas markets. Kim Jeong-hee, the head of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, said, “ Hoes are an important component of the ecosystem, and disease prevention in honeybees is essential for maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. The gene therapy for cyst rot, developed and commercialized through joint research between the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency and Genolution Co., Ltd., is expected to prevent the decline in the honeybee population and protect and develop the domestic beekeeping industry”. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/3014/beewise-lands-50m-to-take-smart-beehive-tech-to-the-next-level.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/3014/beewise-lands-50m-to-take-smart-beehive-tech-to-the-next-level.html Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:54:51 +0530 New and existing investors back Beewise’s AI- and robotics-powered BeeHome as the company scales its precision pollination technology. Beewise, the climate tech innovator behind the AI-powered BeeHome, has raised $50 million in Series D funding, bringing its total capital to nearly $170 million. The round includes continued support from Fortissimo Capital, Insight Partners, APG Asset Management, lool Ventures, Badiya Capital, Marav Mazon Group, and Austin Hearst (Tom Horne). This latest funding will accelerate technological innovation, geographic expansion, and research and development, all in service of Beewise’s mission to save bees and secure global food supplies. Beewise’s flagship product, the BeeHome, is the world’s first autonomous beekeeping system. Unlike traditional hive sensors that only offer passive monitoring, the BeeHome delivers real-time, AI-driven care using solar-powered robotics. These hives provide autonomous responses to hive threats and environmental stressors—significantly improving colony survival and pollination effectiveness. Today, 1,240 BeeHomes are operational, covering over 300,000 acres annually and serving major growers including Nuveen Natural Capital (TIAA), Agriland, and Olam Food Ingredients. Each unit uses machine learning models and remote capabilities to continuously assess hive health. Beekeepers can step in remotely via Beewise’s proprietary software, balancing automation with human oversight. "We are very pleased with the results of our fundraising efforts," said Saar Safra, Co-founder and CEO of Beewise. "This round validates our leadership in using AI to address the global collapse of bee colonies—one of humanity’s most pressing environmental challenges." Yoav Hineman, Partner at Fortissimo Capital and board member, added that Beewise’s progress—from bold vision to global market leadership—reinforces their confidence in the team and the transformative power of the technology. Daniel Aronovitz, Managing Director at Insight Partners and fellow board member, noted that what Beewise is building has global implications for the environment, the food chain, and beyond, and that Insight is proud to continue supporting the company on this journey. Since its 2022 Series C round, Beewise has launched the fourth-generation BeeHome™ 4, featuring proprietary Beewise Heat Chamber Technology, which eliminates 99 per cent of lethal Varroa mites without chemicals. The company has also deployed AI agents to mitigate climate risk in agriculture through adaptive, autonomous systems, demonstrated the real-world performance of an autonomous robot delivering round-the-clock beekeeping care, and built a world-class AI team applying RNNs, machine learning, and reinforcement learning to enable the first truly autonomous beekeeper. With pollinator loss threatening global food security—over 62 per cent of U.S. colonies died last year—Beewise offers a proven, scalable solution that restores pollination, improves crop yields, and enhances biodiversity. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2962/beehero-unveils-innovative-task-manager-tool-to-enhance-apiary-operations.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2962/beehero-unveils-innovative-task-manager-tool-to-enhance-apiary-operations.html Mon, 26 May 2025 14:37:14 +0530 Precision Pollination leader BeeHero rolls out new management tool, celebrates pollinator and sustainability milestones In honor of World Bee Day, BeeHero, the global leader in data-driven precision pollination, announced the launch of its Beekeeping Task Manager, a digital tool designed to help beekeepers manage large-scale operations more effectively. Alongside the launch, BeeHero also released new data highlighting its growing impact on pollinator health, crop productivity, and sustainable agriculture. The Beekeeping Task Manager, available via web and mobile apps, allows beekeepers to plan, assign, and track tasks more efficiently across teams. It features real-time updates, field visit coordination, and offline logging capabilities—particularly useful in low-connectivity regions like rural Australia, where almond pollination season begins in August. This launch comes at a critical time for pollinators. With more than 75 per cent of food crops reliant on pollination, the stakes are high—especially after U.S. bee colonies saw winter losses spike to 60–70 per cent. In contrast, hives monitored by BeeHero reported significantly lower mortality rates of around 30 per cent, equating to over 2 billion bees saved. Additionally, by optimizing hive deployment, BeeHero prevented 1,313 tons of CO₂ emissions, cutting back on colony transport. “At a time when bees are under unprecedented pressure, we're proud to protect these crucial pollinators,” said Omer Davidi, CEO and Co-Founder of BeeHero. “Our technology empowers beekeepers and growers with real-time insights, creating stronger hives and more sustainable food production.” BeeHero uses proprietary IoT sensors and advanced AI analytics to track bee health, environmental conditions, and pollination activity. With over 300,000 hives globally collecting 25 million daily data points, BeeHero operates the world’s largest precision pollination network. Over the past year, BeeHero’s impact has grown with the rollout of next-gen tools like: PIP 2.0: An in-field sensing platform delivering real-time pollination heatmaps and multi-pollinator tracking. HeroLink: A solar-powered field gateway with a multi-frequency antenna for reliable data transmission in remote areas. Global Million Hive Network: A global initiative to expand smart hive monitoring, drive research, and foster collaboration across the pollination ecosystem. As BeeHero continues to scale its platform, it remains committed to advancing pollinator protection, supporting agricultural resilience, and contributing to a healthier planet. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2916/beehero-launches-herolink-providing-solar-powered-connectivity-for-the-future-of-precision-pollination-infrastructure.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2916/beehero-launches-herolink-providing-solar-powered-connectivity-for-the-future-of-precision-pollination-infrastructure.html Fri, 16 May 2025 10:04:44 +0530 HeroLink enables scalable, sustainable, high-fidelity data collection across even the most remote commercial farmland BeeHero, the global leader of data-driven precision pollination, has unveiled HeroLink, the solar-powered evolution of its critical gateway infrastructure, which aggregates and transmits BeeHero's in-field and in-hive sensor data to the cloud for AI-powered analysis. Currently scheduled for its first deployment across orchards during Australia's almond pollination season in July, HeroLink offers growers and beekeepers a more sustainable, longer-lasting solution for high-fidelity data collection across expansive orchards and transmission to the cloud—setting the stage for the next generation of scalable precision pollination. Modern commercial agriculture is being transformed by precision technologies, many of which require stable internet connectivity to function effectively in the field. And yet, both in the US and across the globe, limited connectivity in rural areas persists, challenging the adoption of agricultural innovations. BeeHero overcomes this challenge with HeroLink, a robust, adaptable solution with the ability to deliver reliable, uninterrupted data collection even in remote, low-connectivity regions. Integrating an industry-first, multi-frequency internal cellular antenna capable of transmitting data even in areas with no reception, HeroLink enables the smooth function of the company's precision pollination technology in all farming environments. A long-standing, critical component of BeeHero's precision pollination solutions, the HeroLink gateway unit aggregates data from a number of the company's proprietary in-field and in-hive IoT sensors, including key environmental information such as temperature, humidity, sound levels, and vibration. Each HeroLink unit then transmits this rich data set to the cloud in real time using an onboard cellular modem, enabling BeeHero's AI-driven analytics platform to generate early detection and actionable insights for growers and beekeepers. The new HeroLink features a solar-powered, rechargeable architecture and the upgraded cellular antenna, dramatically improving connectivity and energy independence, extending the unit's lifecycle, reducing maintenance, and enabling large-scale, year-round deployment including in areas where traditional infrastructure falls short. The first deployment of HeroLink units will take place during the Australian almond pollination season this upcoming July 2024, showcasing the solution's consistent, high-quality data collection in remote, low-connectivity regions like the country's expansive almond-growing areas. HeroLink represents the 5th generation of BeeHero's gateway infrastructure, with more than 100,000 BeeHero gateway units previously deployed across the US and Australia. Omer Davidi, Co-Founder and CEO of BeeHero. "By combining solar power with vastly improved connectivity, we are eliminating barriers to scale and bringing data transparency to even the most remote corners of commercial farmland. In doing so, we are empowering growers and beekeepers to monitor more hives, more often, with fewer infrastructure limitations—continuing to make precision pollination more scalable and sustainable." In addition to its value for sustainable agriculture practices, HeroLink introduces a significant architectural enhancement: the ability for a single gateway to support a much larger number of sensors. Each unit can now support an unlimited number of in-field and in-hive sensors, thanks to a new communication protocol that enables both extended range and sensor-to-sensor data relaying. This reduces installation complexity and costs while allowing for increased sensor density and frequency of data transmission. The result is a higher-resolution picture of pollination activity, hive health, and environmental conditions without the constraints of battery life. HeroLink alignes with the goals of "The Global Million Hives Network," an initiative launched by BeeHero last month with the aim of creating the world's largest data-based project to monitor bee health. BeeHero's solar-powered design and ability to connect large numbers of sensors in remote areas is bolstering the initiative's goal of expanding global hive monitoring to safeguard pollinators and food security. As the largest precision pollination provider in the world, BeeHero currently monitors over 300,000 hives, collecting 25 million daily data samples. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2847/a-global-challenge-has-been-launched-to-develop-technologies-to-detect-and-manage-european-honey-bee-mites.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2847/a-global-challenge-has-been-launched-to-develop-technologies-to-detect-and-manage-european-honey-bee-mites.html Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:59:56 +0530 The honey bee industry is worth more than $14 billion annually in Australia’s agriculture A new global innovation challenge has been launched to find technologies for detecting and managing European honey bee mites. This project aims to improve Australia’s ability to detect exotic mites at the border and provide beekeepers with technology to manage Varroa mite effectively. The honey bee industry is critical to Australia’s agriculture, not only producing honey and wax but also pollinating crops, with the industry worth more than $14 billion annually. Mites like Varroa are threatening Australia’s honey bee industry.  Honey bee mites, such as Varroa destructor and Varroa jacobsoni, are small red-brown external parasites that can cause the collapse and death of honey bee colonies. If untreated, they weaken bees by feeding on developing pupae and spreading harmful viruses. Through the global challenge, Australia has collaborated with CSIRO and Hort Innovation to invite innovators, problem solvers and organisations to provide advanced technology solutions for the surveillance and monitoring of mites. These will then undergo a desktop evaluation. Potential future phases of the project would generate an independent evaluation of advanced technologies field tested in Australia for the beekeeping industry.  This project has been developed under the Catalysing Australia’s Biosecurity (CAB) initiative. CAB aims to drive innovation and transformation across Australia’s biosecurity system and is a collaboration between the department and CSIRO.  ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2343/bee-vectoring-technologies-to-develop-go-to-market-partnership-in-north-africa-and-middle-east-regions.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2343/bee-vectoring-technologies-to-develop-go-to-market-partnership-in-north-africa-and-middle-east-regions.html Wed, 31 Jul 2024 11:38:23 +0530 Aims to establish locally-connected agribusinesses in four key countries to commercialize bee vectoring system and biological control agent Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc.  is set to embark into North Africa and the Middle East markets through strategic partnerships with leading, locally-connected agribusinesses in four key countries to commercialize and scale the Company’s proprietary bee vectoring system and biological control agent Clonostachys rosea strain CR-7 (CR-7). BVT continues to progress its strategic go-to-market collaborations in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Morocco and Israel. In Turkey, the partnership is with BioGlobal: earlier this year, they ran demonstration trials with Turkey’s Ministry of Agriculture. The trial clearly showed that the BVT bee vectoring system, used with bumblebees and a third-party microbe, is incredibly effective in precisely delivering a beneficial microbe to greenhouse tomatoes. Once the protocol is secured, BioGlobal will proceed with registration trials for CR-7 in Turkey, then move forward with full-country registration. BVT is also collaborating with BioGlobal in Azerbaijan, where registration could be secured in as little as a year. Christoph Lehnen, BVT Business Manager for Europe, Africa and the Middle East explains "In Morocco, BVT has had successful trials on tomato crops. With the resulting strong data, applying for country registration is the next step. BVT will work with Groupe SAOAS on the submission which is planned to be timed alongside the submission to the European Union. In Israel, trials are being conducted with Lidorr Elements, a leading crop protection expert in the Israeli market. Lidorr Elements has commenced trials of CR-7 on almonds using the Company’s bee vectoring system for bumblebees, comparing it with traditional spray applications. Trials on strawberry and tomato crops are planned next". The next step is registering BVT’s technology and selling it to local growers. Company holds similar strategic plans for the other three countries as well. The four countries combined use more than 600,000 commercial bee hives each year. These addressable market in the four key countries includes 157,600 hectares of key crops grown. This includes an estimated 106,500 hectares of covered tomatoes, cherries and berries in Turkey; 8,100 hectares of covered tomatoes, covered apricots and berries in Azerbaijan; 22,000 hectares of covered tomatoes and berries in Morocco; and 31,000 hectares of almonds, tomatoes, peppers, berries, peaches and avocados in Israel. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2197/australia-honey-and-edible-apiculture-products-gains-access-to-vietnam-market.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/2197/australia-honey-and-edible-apiculture-products-gains-access-to-vietnam-market.html Fri, 07 Jun 2024 11:28:54 +0530 Exports to Vietnam will further contribute to $14 billion per year in Australia’s honey industry Australia’s honey industry is set to flourish with new market access for the export of honey and edible apiculture products to Vietnam. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt welcomed this outcome in a meeting with Vietnam’s Minister Le Minh Hoan, held in the margins of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. “Australia’s honey industry is a huge contributor to the Australian economy - exports to Vietnam will further contribute to this $14 billion per year industry. “Since I met with Minister Le Minh Hoan, trade has commenced, with 10 shipments landing in Vietnam – an unbeelievable outcome for our honey industry” Minister Watt said. “Rising incomes and a growing food manufacturing sector are expected to drive strong growth in consumption of agricultural products in Vietnam over the next decade and our world-renowned honey and apiculture products will now enjoy a seat at the table” added Minister Watt. Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell outlined the Albanese Government’s support for Australian exporters through the $19m Southeast Asia Business Exchange. The government is also in the process of finalising upgrades to Australia’s free trade agreement in Southeast Asia.     “Since the release of our Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, we have seen a hive of business activity in Vietnam and right across the region,” Minister Farrell said. “Effective cooperation between Australia and Vietnam has continued to grow our mutually beneficial agricultural trade relationship, delivering strong results for both country’s producers and exporters. In 2023, two-way trade in agriculture, fisheries and forestry commodities between Australia and Vietnam exceeded $6 billion. In addition, we’re working with our Vietnamese counterparts to improve biosecurity across aquaculture and plant health as well as cooperation and capacity building across a number of key sectors for Vietnam like rice" Minister Watt added. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/1899/beehero-launches-pollination-research-stations-prs-in-the-u-s.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/1899/beehero-launches-pollination-research-stations-prs-in-the-u-s.html Thu, 29 Feb 2024 09:14:00 +0530 To give growers and stakeholders real-time visibility into bees & pollination BeeHero, the pioneer of data-driven precision pollination, announced the launch of its groundbreaking Pollination Research Stations (PRS). With three Pollination Research Stations situated in California's Central Valley, BeeHero's innovative data platform now provides unprecedented ability to track and monitor bloom progress and bee activity in the world's most important almond-producing region. Approximately 75% of crops grown for human consumption rely on pollination, underscoring the process's critical role in global food security. Understanding pollination progress is essential for effective pollination, as it allows growers to optimize their timing and allocate resources efficiently to best sustain their agricultural operations and maximize yield potential. However, most growers lack visibility into these processes, often requiring them to rely on their best guesses and approximations, all while managing unpredictable weather and the ongoing challenges of day-to-day operations. BeeHero's Pollination Research Stations deliver real-time, accurate, and extensive data on bloom progression and bee activity, providing unprecedented visibility for growers who previously operated with minimal data. Harnessing advanced scientific monitoring techniques and AI analysis, the stations collect data that is analyzed to provide invaluable insights via a public dashboard, enabling any local grower or other agricultural stakeholder to refine their practices, mitigate risks, and boost pollination. By making this information available at no cost, BeeHero is helping agriculture industry players make informed decisions, adapt to changing environmental conditions, foster more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices, and improve yield potential. Each Pollination Research Station is fully equipped with precision instrumentation tailored to deliver comprehensive and accurate real-time data, including: Weather Monitoring Equipment: Alerts growers to potential frost advisories, ensuring proactive measures can be taken to safeguard crops. Bee Counters: Provide highly accurate bee flight times, enabling the precise tracking of pollination activity to the single bee level. Scales: Offer insights into colony weight gain, a key indicator of foraging and pollination effectiveness. Cameras: Deliver visual confirmation of bloom progression throughout California's orchards, enhancing monitoring capabilities. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/1579/dalan-animal-healths-pioneering-honeybee-vaccine-recognized-for-innovative-tech-and-animal-health.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/1579/dalan-animal-healths-pioneering-honeybee-vaccine-recognized-for-innovative-tech-and-animal-health.html Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:00:12 +0530 Dalan Animal Health, Inc. ("Dalan"), the biotech company specializing in insect health, today announced that it has been included in the 2023 Fast Company Next Big Thing in Tech list in recognition of its innovative animal health solution, a the world's first vaccine to protect honeybees against American Foulbrood (AFB), a devastating disease that weakens and kills honeybee colonies globally, compromising our global food supply. This honor marks the third award in a series of top industry recognitions bestowed to Dalan this quarter. In addition to Fast Company, Dalan has also been awarded the animal health innovator recognition by International Zendal Awards, which celebrates and financially awards innovative biotechnology solutions, as well as recent inclusion on TIME's Best Inventions of 2023 in the sustainability category for the promise the vaccine holds for both protecting honeybees and advancing greater biodiversity.  "Pollinators are the building blocks of our food supply and play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem biodiversity. Without them, the global food supply as we know it ceases to exist," said Dr. Annette Kleiser, co-founder and CEO of Dalan Animal Health. "Our honeybee vaccine represents an important milestone in the collective fight for increased invertebrate health and environmental sustainability as we enable beekeepers to access proactive solutions for healthy, productive hives."   According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), honeybees pollinate about one-third of the crops globally and are responsible for producing an estimated $15 billion worth of crops. Dalan's first-of-its-kind vaccine is a safe, organic, non-GMO, non-chemical prophylactic tool that empowers beekeepers to protect their hives without the use of antibiotics. Since its development, the vaccine quickly received conditional market authorization for its groundbreaking vaccine in both the United States and Canada, expanding Dalan's ever-widening reach to beekeepers globally ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/1280/beehero-launches-pollination-insight-platform-pip.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/1280/beehero-launches-pollination-insight-platform-pip.html Fri, 11 Aug 2023 10:37:01 +0530 In-Field Sensing Solution Monitoring Pollinator Activity to Improve Crop Pollination BeeHero, the pioneer of data-driven precision pollination, has developed a digital solution that collects data about pollinator behavior and environmental conditions to give growers actionable, AI-powered insights, improving pollination and crop yield in real time and adding to the world's largest bee activity dataset. BeeHero is redefining pollination in commercial agriculture by introducing Pollination Insight Platform (PIP), an in-field sensing solution that measures pollinator activity in crops to improve pollination and increase yields. PIP utilizes BeeHero's patented in-hive sensors, which provide valuable in-field sensing capabilities for a variety of seed, row, and specialty crops, to enable real-time, data-backed decisions by growers. The new technology builds on and will also contribute to BeeHero's dataset of bee behavior, the largest such database in the world, fueled by the 200K hives under BeeHero management. About 75% of major food crops rely on pollinators, the most important one being bees. By understanding the rate at which bees visit those required crops, growers can gauge the efficacy of pollination and identify potential issues in the process, allowing them to take proactive measures to enhance results. BeeHero is using advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, and low-cost IoT sensors, BeeHero brings transparency and efficiency to the complex logistics of commercial crop pollination. Its Precision Pollination as a Service (PPaaS) results in better crop yields and increased profits for commercial crop growers and agribusiness stakeholders. Their precision pollination solution is rapidly evolving into the backbone of the data-driven approach needed to build a resilient and future-proof sustainable agriculture ecosystem. The company is headquartered in Fresno, California, with offices in Palo Alto, California and R&D in Tel Aviv, Israel. BeeHero's simple, plug-and-play in-field sensors measure bee activity, including bee visits to flowers and other bee behavior, as well as environmental conditions. Leveraging AI-powered analytics, the data - which was previously collected manually in an inefficient and incomplete manner - is transformed into actionable insights that support real-time decisions by growers to significantly improve crop yield. The activity reported by the sensors is easily accessible through a mobile device that serves as an effective management tool, helping growers keep track of dates, hive placements, and pollination strength. Omer Davidi, Co-Founder and CEO of BeeHero, "The new platform empowers growers with crucial knowledge about the actual bee activity in the field - with huge positive implications for seed, row, and other crops. We look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of what's possible, driven by our innovative spirit and unparalleled bioresearch team, to serve growers and beekeepers across the globe." ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/1002/fao-advocates-responsible-apiculture-to-protect-bees-and-pollinators.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/1002/fao-advocates-responsible-apiculture-to-protect-bees-and-pollinators.html Tue, 30 May 2023 14:42:38 +0530 World Bee Day 2023 drew attention to the threats endangering these insects and the need to address them The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on May 20, marked World Bee Day 2023 with a global ceremony in which participants emphasized the importance of promoting sustainable agricultural practices that respect pollinators' vital role in nature. Under the theme "Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”, World Bee Day 2023 drew attention to the threats endangering these insects and the need to address them. The Republic of Slovenia initiated World Bee Day in 2016 at the FAO Regional Conference for Europe backed by the United Nations. FAO’s commitment to protecting bees and pollinators. A pre-event for the Second International Symposium on Biosecurity in Beekeeping was organized by FAO in conjunction with World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), In addition to providing participants with information on the latest developments in bee biosecurity, the international organizations involved are implementing initiatives to ensure bee health around the globe. Through the Global Action on Pollination Services for Sustainable Agriculture, FAO promotes policies that encourage biological plant pest control and reduce pesticide use, aiming to increase habitat diversity in agricultural and urban settings. In order to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through knowledge exchange and sustainable rural transformation, FAO is using new technologies such as TECA, an online platform that collects successful agricultural technologies and practices. The TECA platform, launched by FAO in 2002 and managed by the FAO's Research and Extension Unit, offers a systematic and user-friendly online repository of family farming technologies, practices, and innovations. What are Pollinator-friendly Agricultural practices? Pollination is essential for the maintenance of plant biodiversity and the survival of our ecosystems. About 75 percent of the world's crops – which produce fruits and other seeds for human consumption – depend, at least in part, on pollinators including bees. “Protecting bees and other pollinators is essential to guarantee agricultural production, food security, ecosystem restoration, and plant health,” explains FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. "Pollinator-friendly practices include crop rotation and diversity, reducing pesticide use, and restoring and protecting. Precision agriculture tools and innovations can even protect bees. Using technology and data to optimize fertilizer and irrigation practices can reduce excessive nutrients and chemicals in water, which harm pollinators and their habitats," added FAO Director-General. “World Bee Day has contributed significantly to raising awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators and promoting international cooperation to protect them. Slovenia alone has co-created more than 300 pollinator projects with partners on all continents. Pollinators have entered many more school curricula, political debates, research agendas, business plans, and agricultural practices” said Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia. Global bee and pollinator experts highlighted how unsustainable agriculture and pesticide abuse contribute to bees' and other pollinators' reduced access to food and nesting sites. This exposes them to harmful chemicals that weaken their immune systems, sometimes killing them. They also noted how intensive monoculture production often leads to the elimination of natural areas rich in flowering plants. These areas are replaced by a single large crop, causing significant damage to biodiversity and ecosystems. ]]> https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/920/koreas-daesung-smarthive-launches.html https://agrospectrumasia.com/news/36/920/koreas-daesung-smarthive-launches.html Thu, 11 May 2023 13:30:00 +0530 The novel Plasma Ozone Storage is designed to eliminate bacteria, viruses and harmful substances from the honey by trapping the impurities outside the hive Korea's Daesung SmartHive, has launched a innovative honey collection unit to strengthen the apiculture industry. The innovative Plasma Ozone Storage has a built-in eco-friendly technology that provides advanced sterilization, disinfection and odor removal impacts from the honey collected from natural sources. The innovative product is designed to eliminate bacteria, viruses and harmful substances from the honey by trapping the impurities outside the hive. Plasma Ozone Storage and Wasp Trap were installed in various bee farms in Korea, including North Jeolla, North Gyeongsang and Gangwon, for empirical testing. By reducing labor time by 50%, the Hive Controller allows Korean beekeeping farms to extract honey in its purest farm. Weasel traps are another environmentally friendly product that use no attractants, such as separately fermented liquid. The device is placed at the hive's entrance and plays with the habits of the wasps that follow the bees. Through the passage of bees in the trap, wasps are caught in the trapping surface, allowing bees to freely and safely enter the hive. In addition to reducing the labor and other costs of wasp control, this technology reduces the need to be present at the apiary to manually remove wasps. A handheld smart beekeeping system, the Hive Controller, can be used to safely remove honeycombs from hives, brush bees, and stack combs outside the hives. With this product, honey extraction is more convenient and efficient because it weighs only 9 kg, is non-corrosive, and can be used by a beginner alone. Furthermore, it can be used in all hives of the same width, regardless of size. For power supply, an adapter and battery (optional) can be used. Daesung SmartHive has also signed MOUs with companies and research institutes in the US, Spain, UK, Uzbekistan and Africa to enter the overseas market. Daesung SmartHive will showcase its products at domestic and foreign agricultural equipment fairs to expand its reach and continue to offer innovative solutions to the agricultural industry. Daesung SmartHive's new products are expected to provide significant benefits to the livestock and beekeeping industries, making these operations safer, more efficient and more profitable. ]]>