BBC News

Scientists make 'superfood' that could save honeybees

Monkey Viral

Scientists make superfood that could save honeybees  Monkey Viral

University of Oxford

Saving bees with superfoods: new engineered supplement found to boost colony reproduction

Nature

Engineered yeast provides rare but essential pollen sterols for honeybees

PHYS

Saving bees with superfoods: Engineered supplement boosts colony reproduction

Honeybees contribute to pollinating approximately 70% of leading global crops, making their decline a significant threat to food security and agricultural production worldwide. Annual commercial honeybee colony losses in the United States have ranged between 40-50% over the past decade and could reach 60-70% by 2025.</span

Honeybees contribute to pollinating approximately 70% of leading global crops, making their decline a significant threat to food security and agricultural production worldwide. Annual commercial honeybee colony losses in the United States have ranged between 40-50% over the past decade and could reach 60-70% by 2025.

The research team used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to engineer the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to produce six essential sterols that honeybees require for development but cannot synthesize themselves. These sterols include 24-methylenecholesterol, campesterol, isofucosterol, β-sitosterol, cholesterol, and desmosterol.</span

The research team used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to engineer the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica to produce six essential sterols that honeybees require for development but cannot synthesize themselves. These sterols include 24-methylenecholesterol, campesterol, isofucosterol, β-sitosterol, cholesterol, and desmosterol.

Traditional artificial pollen substitutes made of protein flour, sugar, and water lack essential lipids called sterols that are necessary for honeybee development and colony health. The absence of these nutrients makes conventional supplements nutritionally incomplete, comparable to humans eating meals without essential fatty acids.</span

Traditional artificial pollen substitutes made of protein flour, sugar, and water lack essential lipids called sterols that are necessary for honeybee development and colony health. The absence of these nutrients makes conventional supplements nutritionally incomplete, comparable to humans eating meals without essential fatty acids.

Colonies fed the sterol-enriched diet continued rearing brood throughout the three-month study period, while colonies on sterol-deficient diets ceased brood production after 90 days. The sterol profile of larvae in colonies fed the engineered yeast matched that found in naturally foraged colonies.</span

Colonies fed the sterol-enriched diet continued rearing brood throughout the three-month study period, while colonies on sterol-deficient diets ceased brood production after 90 days. The sterol profile of larvae in colonies fed the engineered yeast matched that found in naturally foraged colonies.

The supplement could be available to beekeepers and farmers within two years, pending larger-scale field trials to assess long-term impacts on colony health and pollination efficacy. The technology may also be adapted to develop dietary supplements for other pollinators or farmed insects.</span

The supplement could be available to beekeepers and farmers within two years, pending larger-scale field trials to assess long-term impacts on colony health and pollination efficacy. The technology may also be adapted to develop dietary supplements for other pollinators or farmed insects.

BBC News #

Monkey Viral #

University of Oxford #

Nature #

PHYS #

Researchers create 'superfoods' to save honeybees

Research

Environment

Endangered species

United Kingdom

While promising in controlled lab conditions, this artificial approach raises concerns about long-term dependency and ecological impacts. Natural solutions like habitat restoration and reduced pesticide use address underlying causes rather than treating symptoms. The technology remains unproven in real-world field conditions where multiple stressors affect bee health simultaneously.

While promising in controlled lab conditions, this artificial approach raises concerns about long-term dependency and ecological impacts. Natural solutions like habitat restoration and reduced pesticide use address underlying causes rather than treating symptoms. The technology remains unproven in real-world field conditions where multiple stressors affect bee health simultaneously.

Scientists Create Honeybee 'Superfood' to Combat Colony Decline

ResearchersScientists createCreate Honeybee 'superfoodsSuperfood' to saveCombat honeybeesColony Decline

The Spin

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Scientists Create Honeybee 'Superfood' to Combat Colony Decline

ResearchersScientists createCreate Honeybee 'superfoodsSuperfood' to saveCombat honeybeesColony Decline

The Spin

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters