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.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Harvested acres are estimated at 90.0 million, making this year’s corn crop one of the largest since the 1930s.
China has been largely absent from U.S. markets lately, but not when it comes to cotton. It’s a buy that, traders say, isn’t surprising given China’s limitations.
The North Carolina Farm Bureau highlights the work being done on Sound Mind Farms, a farm producing hemp to make sustainable fabrics.
U.S. producers are holding off on equipment investments amid financial pressure, market uncertainty, a rising demand for diesel, and growing desperation for trade wins.
“A lot of natural instincts involved in this format.”