Scientists have developed a breakthrough “superfood” for honeybees by engineering yeast to produce the essential nutrients normally found in pollen. In controlled trials, colonies fed this specially designed diet produced up to 15 times more young, showing a dramatic boost in reproduction and overall health. As climate change and modern agriculture reduce the availability of natural pollen, this innovation could offer a practical way to support struggling bee populations.
Does it work for all bee species or only the honeybee species we usually use for producing honey? Wild populations are getting fucked and, last I checked, outcompeted by invasive honeybees we keep introducing to new areas for increased honey production…
The article suggests that if the farmed honey bees get this engineered food, that would leave more wild forrage for native bees.
I suspect native bees would also benefit from eating it too.
Being married to a pollinator ecologist has taught me at least one thing: honeybees are overrated. Native bees are waaay cooler.
I’m glad the article said something about the impact to native bee populations, and I expect the same, but it would’ve been much nicer if the paper said something about them. For now we’re stuck with speculation…