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.

  • Asetru@feddit.orgEnglish
    520·
    2 days ago

    This isn’t fixing. This is a bandaid for some symptoms because god forbid we stop burning the planet to the ground.

    • rmuk@feddit.ukEnglish
      411·
      2 days ago

      Yeah, it’s like when firefighters “save” people from burning building and everyone’s like, “well done firefighters, you did a good job” and I’m over here being smart and sensible saying “if firefighters were such heroes, why did the building burn down in the first place?” because I am very smart and sensible.

    • BigJohnnyHines@lemmy.caEnglish
      21·
      2 days ago

      They’ve done far more than you have so far. And maybe because of it some bees will still be around to benefit when people “stop burning the planet to the ground”. Turns out both ecology and environmentalism is more than performative statements.