Scientists have developed a breakthrough “superfood” for honeybees by engineering yeast to produce the essential nutrients normally found in pollen. In controlled trials, colonies fed this specially designed diet produced up to 15 times more young, showing a dramatic boost in reproduction and overall health. As climate change and modern agriculture reduce the availability of natural pollen, this innovation could offer a practical way to support struggling bee populations.

Using CRISPR-Cas9, scientists engineered a yeast to produce the nutrient feed. Farmers could have it in two years.

  • goldemboy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    3 days ago

    The whole plant is edible too but gets more bitter the older it gets. Especially delicious as a spring salad mix in.

    • GalacticGrapefruit@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      3 days ago

      I love eating dandelion heads when they first show up in the spring. Everybody thinks I’m nuts when I reach into someone’s yard and pop it right off the stem and eat it, but I genuinely like them.