Farmers turn to tech as bees struggle to pollinate

The avocado trees are being artificially pollinated, so Thai Sade brushes them in the sweltering morning sun.

The founder of the tech company BloomX, Mr. Sade, lives on a moshav, or collective farm, in central Israel. According to him, the business has discovered a way to mechanically pollinate crops in a manner similar to bees.

We are not replacing the bees. but rather by providing farmers with more effective pollinating techniques and lowering their reliance on industrial honeybees," he says.

Pollinators are necessary for three out of every four crops that are grown for the purpose of producing fruits or seeds for human consumption. And the work is done by bees, whether they are domesticated honeybees or one of the more than 20,000 different species of wild bees, like bumblebees.

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According to estimates, bees of all kinds are responsible for 75 percent of the pollination of fruits, nuts, and vegetables grown in the US. In Europe, the percentage is comparable, with other insects like wasps and butterflies accounting for the final quarter.

Unfortunately for farmers, bee populations are in danger because of things like climate change, habit loss, and pesticide use. A parasitic mite known as varroa destructor is also having a significant negative impact on European honeybees.

Blueberries and avocados are two crops that are currently targeted by BloomX's technology, which makes it possible to pollinate them even in areas with very few bees.

Robee, the company's flagship product, initially resembles a sizable push-along lawnmower. It protrudes on either side with two mechanical arms.

These vibrate, and when they are brushed against blueberry plants, the plants release pollen. According to legend, the vibration level was created to mimic bumble bees, which are the best pollinators of blueberries and use their wings to agitate the flowers.

The "Crossbee," a portable device made by BloomX, is used to gather and disperse sticky pollen grains between avocado trees. In South America, South Africa, Spain, the US, and Israel, the machinery is currently in use. According to BloomX, it can increase fruit yields by 30%.

In order for farm workers to know which parts of a field have been treated, each product has a GPS tool that is controlled by an AI-based software system connected to a mobile phone app.

In order to ensure that pollination occurs on the best days, sensors can also be installed.

Growing almonds is a huge industry in California. 80 percent of the world's almonds are produced in the state, and the almond industry is thought to be worth $10.4bn (£8.3bn) annually.

Honeybees are trucked to California from all over the US during the almond flowering season to fertilize the 1.3 million acres of these trees. According to some reports, the state receives 70 percent of the commercial honeybees produced in the US.

According to Washington State University associate horticulture professor Lisa Wasko DeVetter, this may result in a shortage of honeybees for other crops in other parts of the US. This gap might be filled in part by artificial pollination.

Despite the fact that travel can weaken colonies and stress honey bees, pollinating almonds is crucial for beekeepers' income and the sustainability of their operations, according to the expert.

"However, if other crops bloom at a time that coincides with the California almond industry, honey bees may be in short supply, which would have an impact on other crops. ".

Others have commented on the high honeybee mortality rate in the almond fields, with beekeepers blaming pesticide exposure and the strain of moving their hives such a great distance.

Additionally, according to Mr. Sade, such intensive honeybee use "poses a threat to indigenous wild bees who are forced to compete for food and are exposed to new diseases.".

It might be possible to mitigate all these issues by introducing artificial pollination to the almond fields. According to Eylam Ran, "we are pushing bees into places they shouldn't be in real life.".

Mr. Ram is the CEO of Edete, an artificial pollination-focused tech company based in Israel.

Its ability to keep pollen fresh for several years is at the heart of its technology. It has created equipment to collect and then apply the pollen in order to achieve this.

"We can deliver the best pollen when the flower is ready to ovulate. We can do it for apples, cherries, almonds, and pistachios, and our machines fertilize precisely, " says Mr. Ran. ".

Currently, Edete's technology is primarily being used in California on pistachio fields, though they are starting to use it on almonds as well.

According to Mr. Ran, it's good news for bees. "Insects cannot grow well in industrial monoculture. On the contrary, it is killing them. ".

"Not forcing bees into crops they do not naturally feed on will ease the pressure on them, allow them to return to the way they should harvest naturally, while still allowing us to get the fruits and vegetables we need," he continues. ".

According to Diane Drinkwater of the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), artificial pollination is largely unnecessary if bee health and welfare are prioritized.

With the exception of the nectar offered by the flowers as payment, bees have been pollinating successfully for millions of years, largely without charge. "However, migratory pollination helps some high density crops, supporting the livelihoods of many commercial beekeepers.

"BBKA supports honeybees above all other pollinators. They are excellent pollinators because they offer a mobile workforce for early crop pollination, which can boost yields. Additionally, honeybees require the nectar and pollen they gather during pollination in order to survive the winter and feed their population. ".