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.

Using CRISPR-Cas9, scientists engineered a yeast to produce the nutrient feed. Farmers could have it in two years.

  • Town@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
    8·
    14 hours ago

    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.

    • ExFed@programming.devEnglish
      2·
      4 hours ago

      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…