Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is a real-life nightmare scenario that makes any horror movie pale by comparison. Last winter, over 36 percent of the US bee colonies collapsed, affecting honey production, but more significantly, affecting the one-third of all food production that requires pollination.
Now, Israeli-US company Beeologics is taking rapid measures to bring to market a proprietary anti-viral agent that promises to alleviate the effects of the virus strongly associated with CCD, with full-scale US FDA trials commencing next month.
According to the company, the patent-pending Remebee provides protection from the IAPV virus and other bee viruses. The technology is potentially applicable to all bee viruses, precludes the possibility of virus breaking resistance, is non-toxic and leaves no residues in either honeybees or their honey.
Initial trials on 100 hives were conducted in Florida from March to June. The trials were designed, managed and monitored by the Entomology department at the University of Florida, with collaboration of the USDA-ARS in Fort Pierce, Florida and the Florida Department of Agriculture, Apiary Inspection Service.
There is much at stake. "Today it's not about honey but about pollination," says Beeologics CEO Eyal Ben-Chanoch. Pollination using managed honeybees is a critical element in modern agriculture; more than 130 crops in the US require pollination, with an annual crop value of $15 billion.
