Hungry bees through new food pollination

Scientists have created a special food that can change the game-changing bees, working like protein bars when humans need energy!

Researchers at Washington State University and Belgium’s APIX Biosciences have developed a complete artificial diet that keeps bee colonies healthy even if they don’t have access to pollen. This breakthrough could help fight the worrying trend of colonial collapse, which threatens both wild bee populations and crops they pollinate.

New food looks like protein bars and contains all the nutrients to survive. Beekeepers can place these “power bars” directly into bee colonies, where young bees deal with and share nutrients with larvae and adult bees.

“Land use, urban expansion and extreme weather changes all have negative effects on the nutrition of bees and other pollinators,” explains Brandon Hopkins, professor of pollination ecology and one of the study authors. “Bees need multiple diets to survive, but are finding it increasingly difficult to find the pollen supply they need.”

Bees have thus far been the only livestock that cannot be maintained on artificial feed. Most animals, from chickens to cows, can thrive on a well-designed diet, but bees need natural pollen to survive. New developments have completely changed this.

The team discovered something particularly important: A molecule called isofocosterol, which is naturally found in pollen, is absolutely crucial for bees’ health. When this specific nutrient is missing from the test diet, bee colonies show larvae production, the adult paralyzed and eventually collapsed completely.

To prove the food they work in the real world, scientists tested it with bee colonies placed in fields of blueberries and sunflowers – both known for their poor quality pollen. The results were impressive – the colonies accepted new food, while those without it were struggling or dying.

“Some beekeepers no longer pollinate blueberries because colonies suffer or die,” Hopkins noted. “Blueberry pollen is not very nutritious for bees. But if they have this source of supplemental food, beekeepers may return to these fields because they know their bees are more likely to survive.”

Schedule is not more critical. Bee populations face enormous challenges around the world, including habitat loss, pesticide exposure and climate change. When bees are unable to obtain pollen sources of multiple nutrients, their immune systems weaken, making them more susceptible to diseases and parasites.

The research team is working to obtain bee supplements on the market by mid-2026. Prior to this, they were working with beekeepers across the United States to develop the best way to incorporate this new tool into standard beekeeping practices.

This development offers real hope for young animal lovers who care about bee protection. By ensuring that bees get the proper nutrition, we can help reverse the shocking trend of colonial collapse, protect these important pollinators and the food systems that depend on them.

Remember – about one-third of the food we eat depends on pollination, mainly from bees! By developing better ways to keep these tiny but powerful biological health, scientists are helping ensure food supplies for generations.

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