NovSU Researchers Find a Way to Strengthen Honeybee Colonies
The integrated approach combines biotechnology with digital monitoring.
Researchers at Novgorod State University (NovSU) have found a way to strengthen honeybee colonies, taking another step toward addressing a major food security challenge. Bees play an essential role in pollinating plants, and the Russian team’s approach combines biotechnology with digital monitoring.
The project centers on immunostimulant feed additives made from water-soluble beta-glucans. Bees that received the additives lived about 1.5 times longer than those in a control group. They also left their hives much sooner, another indication of improved physiological health.
The digital component of the experiment relied on a monitoring system developed by the researchers. Sensors tracked hive temperatures and overall bee activity in real time. The data supported the team’s visual observations: colonies receiving beta-glucans maintained a more stable temperature inside their hives, averaging 34.5 ± 0.3°C, compared with 33.8 ± 0.5°C in the control group.
The integrated approach could not only improve apiary productivity but also make beekeeping more attractive to younger people, helping address the industry’s aging workforce.
