Scientists discover a new food which could protect bees against the threats of climate change and habitat loss:
Honey bees worldwide are facing sever decline due to many factors including nutrient deficiencies, viral diseases and habitat loss. In some areas the bee population has reduced by 40-50% and this is only meant to get worse. Bees are a crucial part of the countryside and are necessary in pollinating crops.
Honeybees require many nutrients including lipids called sterols. However as there is increasingly less pollen, bees are not getting enough of these nutrients. Usually, when farmers remove the honey to sell or when there isn’t enough pollen farmers feed the bees protein flour, water and sugar. However, this lacks the necessary sterols. Using gene editing scientists have been able to engineer a yeast which can produce the 6 sterols bees need. Tests show that the bees that were fed this food produced 15 times the number of baby bees. This could help in preserving bee populations.
Larger trials are now in place to test the food before it can be sold.
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