Oxford superfood to reverse risk of bee extinction and environmental collapse

Two recent studies led by the University of Oxford present a "superfood" for honeybees, designed to improve their survival in the face of threats such as climate change, habitat loss, and viral diseases.

In laboratory tests, colonies fed this supplement produced up to 15 times more offspring that reached adulthood , compared to those fed conventional feed. This advance is crucial, considering that bees pollinate approximately 70% of the world's main crops. The findings were published in the journal Nature. See more: Colombian experts will be co-authors of a scientific report on climate change.

Professor Geraldine Wright and her team worked for 15 years to identify the exact sterols the insect needs and engineer a genetically modified yeast capable of producing them.

Professor Wright told BBC News: " This technological breakthrough provides bees with all the nutrients they need to survive, meaning we can continue feeding them even when there isn't enough pollen ."

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The supplement contains all the nutrients that bees normally obtain from pollen and nectar, including essential fatty acids such as sterols, which are absent in traditional supplemental feeds containing only protein meal, sugar, and water. This nutritional innovation is especially useful during times of pollen shortage—such as prolonged winters or early summers—when nutritional stress can lead to significant hive losses.

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Impact, future prospects, and scientific collaboration: The supplement was tested for three months under laboratory conditions, with encouraging results in terms of pup survival.

According to Professor Wright, complete nutrition could also strengthen bees' immune systems, reducing their vulnerability to disease. However, larger-scale trials are needed to evaluate the long-term effects on colony health.

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If these trials yield favorable results, the supplement could be commercially available to beekeepers and farmers within an estimated two years. This project is the result of a collaboration between the University of Oxford, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the University of Greenwich, and the Technical University of Denmark.

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