BeeHero, a data-driven precision pollination company, has released bee activity from the 2022-24 almond pollination seasons.
BeeHero-managed hives showed an average of close to 50% more bee frames per hive than the industry average, according to a news release. The company said its sensors also measured greater daily bee flight hours of about 5.9, compared to 2.7 conventionally measured bee flight hours.
The company timed the release of its findings with World Bee Day, a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness of the critical role of pollinators.
“Our findings showcase the critical nature of robust data in optimizing pollination activities and our unique ability to provide previously unknowable insights — and as a result, stronger hives and more accurate yield predictions — to industry stakeholders,” BeeHero co-founder and CEO Omer Davidi said in the release. “We look forward to continuing to reshape industry paradigms, empowering growers and beekeepers to better foster bee welfare and bolstering productivity for greater profitability.”
During this pollination season, the company said it used several proprietary tools to learn more about bee behavior and pollination efficacy. The company also introduced a Deployment Planning Tool to help beekeepers visualize the orchards the bees work in and plan daily tasks to maximize efficiency.
The company also said its Hive Tracker provides real-time insights into hive shipment and placement and its mobile platform offers access to hive frame accounts and other updates. BeeHero said that, following the pollination season, it provides precision pollination reports to growers with key data points including bee flight hours, bee frames and how its technology impacts the season.
A recent study conducted by BeeHero and the USDA shows how bee colony strength and hive entrance orientation affect honey bee foraging behavior, the company said.
“The findings from these past pollination seasons — both in our research and in the field — highlight the profound potential of our innovative technology to revolutionize pollination practices, fostering a sustainable ecosystem that benefits both beekeepers and growers,” BeeHero co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Yuval Regev said in the release. “By illuminating intricate bee behavior patterns and ecosystem dynamics, we are pioneering a new frontier in pollination science and technology.”
Earlier this month, BeeHero said it received an honorable mention in Fast Company’s 2024 World Changing Ideas Awards in the agriculture category. The award honors products and companies designed to make the world safer, cleaner, more sustainable and more equitable.
