Irish firm unveils honeybee feed

2010-03-04
Newsfeed

An Irish firm has introduced a honeybee feed that claims to improve nutrition and the immune systems of the insects, in a bid to stem their population decline.

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An Irish firm has introduced a honeybee feed that claims to improve nutrition and the immune systems of the insects, in a bid to stem their population decline.

Beemune says its product is natural and has ingredients that can protect honeybees from deadly infections and help them survive environmental pressures, as well as changing farming practices.

It said the feed could help save millions of these pollinators, whose destruction could seriously hamper global food production in the future.

Beemune chief executive Dr Kevin Kavanagh said: "The population decline is a major problem. If bees don't pollinate crops we will lose 40% of world food production."

Honeybee numbers have suffered a dramatic decline over the past few years due to parasites, new pesticides and reducing gene pools.

In 2007, nearly two-thirds of the commercial bee population was destroyed due to the colony collapse disorder during winter hibernation.

Beemune, a spin-off from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, in Co Kildare, is hoping to capitalise on the growing Europe-wide commercial bee industry.

Dr Kavanagh added: "Beemune is focusing on improving the overall health of bees and our results are extremely promising."

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