As honey bee colonies face decreases in natural pollen in their native habitats as a result of climate change, scientists and conservationists have been working to ensure the species’ future.
Researchers from Washington State University and APIX Biosciences may have just found a solution.
In the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers unveiled a new food source designed to sustain bee colonies without access to natural pollen — indefinitely.
The research details successful trials where “nutritionally stressed colonies” in commercial crop pollination in Washington state thrived on the new food source.
“Changes in land use, urban expansion, and extreme weather all negatively impact nutrition for honey bees and other pollinators,” said Brandon Hopkins, P.F. Thurber Endowed Distinguished Professor of Pollinator Ecology at WSU and a co-author of the paper.
“Honey bees are generalists and do not get all their nutrition from a single source. They need variety in their diet to survive, but find it increasingly difficult to find the continuous supply of pollen they need to sustain the colony.”
The innovation is similar to man-made diets fed to livestock and pets and resembles human “Power Bars.” The food source is placed directly into honey bee colonies where young bees can process and distribute the essential nutrients.
According to a statement from WSU, it’s expected to become a potent strategy for combating colony collapse while safeguarding global food supplies that rely on bee pollination.
“Until this study, honey bees were the only livestock that could not be maintained on a man-made feed,” Dr. Patrick Pilkington, CEO of APIX Biosciences US, said.
“The reported scientific work shows in commercial field conditions that providing nutritionally stressed colonies with our pollen-replacing feed results in a major measurable step change in colony health compared to current best practices. Our product has the potential to change the way honey bees are managed.”
The food is enriched with isofucosterol, a molecule found naturally in pollen that acts as a vital nutrient for honey bees.
Researchers conducted field trials with “nutritionally stressed” colonies in blueberry and sunflower fields, which are both known for their poor pollen quality for bees.
Colonies fed with man-made isofucosterol-enriched food survived an entire season without pollen access, while those without it faced severe declines.
The new feed also contains “a comprehensive blend of the other nutrients honey bees require,” WSU explained.
This is promising news for honey bees, and it could transform food systems.
Considering bees’ crucial role in food systems, pollinating fruits, vegetables, nuts, and even alfalfa — a key feed for beef and dairy industries — protecting their health could keep our favorite foods on grocery stores shelves.
One such case? Blueberries.
“Some beekeepers don’t pollinate blueberries anymore because colonies suffer or die, and the pollination fees don’t cover the losses,” Hopkins explained.
“Blueberry pollen isn’t very nutritious for honey bees, and they aren’t adapted well to pollinating that crop. But if they have this supplemental food source, beekeepers may return to pollinating those fields since they know their bees are more likely to survive.”
Pilkington said the bees’ “power bars” will hopefully be on the market by mid-2026.
“We are confident that the product will positively impact beekeepers and growers once it’s available to purchase in the U.S.,” he said.
“Meanwhile, we are working with WSU and the beekeeping community across the USA to develop the best way to make use of this new tool in agricultural settings.”
Header image courtesy of APIX Biosciences
