A groundbreaking development promises to revolutionize honey bee care: scientists have engineered a food source that can sustain bee colonies indefinitely without natural pollen. This innovation, detailed in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, offers a beacon of hope in the face of escalating colony collapse and threats to global food security. The research, a collaborative effort between Washington State University (WSU) and APIX Biosciences NV in Belgium, highlights successful trials where nutritionally stressed bee colonies thrived on this novel food source. These colonies were actively involved in commercial crop pollination in Washington state, demonstrating the practical applicability of this breakthrough. This new food source is designed to provide honey bees with all the essential nutrients they require, much like the carefully formulated diets given to livestock and pets. This addresses a critical challenge: the increasing lack of adequate nutrition in honey bee environments due to land use changes, urban expansion, and extreme weather events. Brandon Hopkins, P.F. Thurber Endowed Distinguished Professor of Pollinator Ecology at WSU, emphasizes that honey bees need a variety of nutrients from multiple sources, a need that is increasingly difficult to meet in the current environment. The innovative food source resembles human "Power Bars" and is placed directly into honey bee colonies. Young bees then process and distribute the vital nutrients to both larvae and adult bees. This delivery method ensures that all members of the colony receive the necessary sustenance for optimal health and productivity. Dr. Patrick Pilkington, CEO of APIX Biosciences US, underscores the significance of this achievement, stating that honey bees were previously the only livestock that couldn't be maintained on a human-made feed. The new pollen-replacing feed has demonstrated a major positive change in colony health compared to current best practices under commercial field conditions, potentially transforming how honey bees are managed. The research, which spanned over a decade, involved extensive collaboration. Thierry Bogaert, lead author and chairman of APIX Biosciences, highlights the combined efforts of APIX Biosciences scientists, the WSU team, and leading beekeepers in California, along with extension teams, to conduct large-scale, science-based field testing of the feeds. A key discovery within the research is the crucial role of isofucosterol, a molecule naturally found in pollen. Colonies fed with isofucosterol-enriched food survived an entire season without pollen access, while those without it experienced severe declines, including reduced larval production, adult paralysis, and colony collapse. The new feed also contains a comprehensive blend of other essential nutrients. To validate the food source's effectiveness, WSU conducted field trials with nutritionally stressed colonies in blueberry and sunflower fields, known for poor pollen quality. The results were compelling: colonies fed the new food source thrived compared to those receiving standard commercial feed or no supplementation, demonstrating increased survival and colony growth. This is particularly significant as some beekeepers are hesitant to pollinate certain crops, like blueberries, due to the detrimental effects on their colonies. With this supplemental food source, beekeepers may be more willing to pollinate these fields, knowing their bees have a higher chance of survival. The urgency of this innovation is underscored by the severe challenge of high annual colony mortality. Pilkington is optimistic about the discovery's impact, anticipating its availability in the U.S. by mid-2026. APIX Biosciences is actively collaborating with WSU and the beekeeping community to optimize the use of this new tool in agricultural settings, paving the way for a healthier future for honey bees and the vital pollination services they provide.
