Precision Pollination: Researchers have developed “BeeHero,” a new technology platform for beekeepers

Pollinators, like bees, are vital to the industry, but they are hard to manage. It is why developers built “BeeHero,” a data-driven precision pollination system.

Founder Itai Kenot talks about what a difference their technology platform can make for bees and farmers.

” With our technology, we’re able to monitor each and every single hive we work with, understand exactly how many frames of bees are in there, understand how good of an output quality a hive can actually produce. And do some matchmaking between specific hives and specific acres. We don’t sell hives per acre. We sell frames of bees per acre. It’s a much more accurate way to measure the pollination service that you’re sourcing and that you’re ordering for your orchard. So we work with our growers to define how many frames they actually need, and then we work with our beekeepers, our suppliers, on getting the best hives possible for that job. Our goal and the way that we incentivize our beekeepers as well is to use the best hives at our disposal.”

Colony losses have been an issue this year. One beekeeper tells us that 40 percent of the nation’s polliating bees did not survive the winter, leaving keepers scrambling to meet demand. They warn it will likely take years to rebuild what has been lost.

Related Stories
American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland shares the soybean sector outlook following the announcement of farm aid to offset losses for U.S. row crop growers.
Sen. Deb Fischer, of Nebraska, mentioned that Congress pushing through year-round E15 sales will do more to help commodity growers than more farm aid, which is currently a reality.
Sen. Moran joins us to discuss the farm aid package and the financial reality faced by row crop farmers in his home state of Kansas.
Grain farms still have strong balance sheets, but another stretch of low profits will force hard cost cuts, especially on high-rent, highly leveraged operations.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Dr. Deb Vnoverbeke, UNL’s Head of Animal Science, joins us with more about the university’s experiential learning programs designed to prepare veterinary students for the future of agriculture.
Lewis Williamson with HTS Commodities shares an update on post-WASDE grain movement, with corn leading export momentum, soybeans steady, and wheat and sorghum continuing to move selectively.
China still has a long way to go before it meets its commitment to buy 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans this year.
The new WOTUS proposal narrows federal jurisdiction, restores key agricultural exclusions, and gives farmers clearer permitting rules after years of regulatory uncertainty.
UMN Extension’s Emily Krekelberg outlines today’s top farm stressors, key signs of mental health distress in rural communities, and the resources available for support.
National Pork Board Chief Sustainability Officer Jamie Burr shares a closer look at the Pork Checkoff’s Pork Cares Farm Impact Report, a research program to increase trust in the pork supply chain.