BeeHero unveiled on May 17 the Healthy Hive Score, the latest metric aimed at measuring bee health and fostering bee welfare management. With the deployment of its innovative Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, BeeHero estimates that a quarter of a billion bees were saved in the past year, resulting in 33% fewer colony losses compared to the national average. This new assessment model provides crucial insights for beekeepers, growers, retailers, and consumers.
The challenge of producing more food with limited resources becomes increasingly significant as world population increases. Bee pollination plays a vital role in food production, contributing $18 billion annually to U.S. agricultural crops. The loss of nearly 40% of managed honey bee colonies in the US between 2021 and 2022 poses a threat to crop pollination and future food supplies. Urgent action is required to measure and promote bee welfare to ensure sustained and successful pollination.
Healthy Hive Score: A data-driven solution
As a leading provider of precision pollination as a service (PPaaS), BeeHero possesses the largest database of bee behavior, drawing from hundreds of thousands of monitored colonies. Leveraging this extensive data alongside existing academic research, BeeHero developed the Healthy Hive Score. Normalized against weather conditions and flight hours, this evaluation model assesses colony health based on factors such as colony growth, brood health, and queen presence, which allows beekeepers to gain comprehensive insights into their colonies’ health. This can help make proactive decisions that minimize losses for beekeepers, and also enables growers to make informed decisions regarding crop pollination to maximize yields while protecting bee health.
Positive Impact: Healthy Hive Score in Action
The Healthy Hive Score was first implemented during California’s 2023 almond pollination season. BeeHero managed the hives, and growers received scores based on the analysis of their orchards’ pollination. The result was impressive: the growers collectively produced approximately 270 million pounds of almonds under bee-friendly conditions.
The real-time look at pollination in the field allows growers to measure and quantify the effectiveness of pollination, and this accomplishment highlights the significant positive impact that prioritizing bee welfare can have on crop yields.
