Proposed Implementation

Probiotic to increase beehive survivability

Product Description

Our probiotic is aimed at commercial and amateur beekeepers whose honeybees encounter glyphosate in their flight radius. In combination with that, we provide a model design to predict the effect of pesticides on hive survivability (see model). This helps beekeepers to assess whether or not intervention is required.

The probiotic can be fed as a nutritional supplement throughout the seasons in combination with drinking water or sugar syrup1. From one of our interviewees (see human practices), we learned that regular feeding intervals are recommended to ensure that the probiotic survives in the colony.

As mentioned in the project description, the ideal probiotic is native to the honeybee gut. The microbiome is a delicate system and introducing a novel microorganism can disrupt the ecological balance2. We therefore propose using Lactobacillus spp. since they are one of the dominating bacterial species in the bee gut3 and are safe to handle for producers and customers3. In fact, strains of Lactobacillus are being used in lotions and dietary supplements for humans today5,6.

Legislative Framework

The biggest hurdle in the implementation of Beecilli will be GMO regulations by the European Union. Although no horizontal ban of GMOs exists, few member states actually approve the open field usage of e.g. modified crops. Environmental organizations and citizens alike have been protesting against GMOs in fear of effects on biodiversity and harm on animal and human health7. However, factors like climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have presented new challenges that biotechnology can help to mitigate – for example by accelerating the development of drought-resistant crops or faster vaccine production. This potential has also been recognised by the European Commission which initiated a review of GMO legislation in the EU8.

Currently, the prerequisites for the release of GMOs are outlined in Directive 2001/18/EC. A real-life example, which can function as an outlook for Beecilli, is a project using another lactic acid bacteria. In 2007, the Belgian company ActoGeniX, later acquired by Precigen, notified three EU member states in order to use a genetically modified strain of Lactococcus lactis in a clinical trial9. Such notifications include for instance evaluations regarding the organism’s genetic stability, its natural habitat, or monitoring methods. Unfortunately, it is not published whether this notification was successful.

An alternative market is the U.S. where honeybee losses are even higher than in the EU10 while GM crops and other organisms face less resilience from legislators and the public11. In any case, the approval decision not only has to be based on state-of-the-art research but must also allow active citizen participation12. This requires a good science literacy of the public as well as good science communication from scientists and research institutions.

References

  1. Borges, D., Guzman-Novoa, E., & Goodwin, P. H.
    (2021). Effects of Prebiotics and Probiotics on Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Infected with the Microsporidian Parasite Nosema ceranae. Microorganisms, 9(3).
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  2. Motta, E. V. S., Powell, J. E., Leonard, S. P., & Moran, N. A.
    (2022). Prospects for probiotics in social bees. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 377(1853), Article 20210156.
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  3. Ellegaard, K. M., & Engel, P.
    (2019). Genomic diversity landscape of the honey bee gut microbiota. Nature Communications, 10(1), 446.
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  4. FDA.
    (29.09.2022). Recently Published GRAS Notices and FDA Letters. Retrieved 15.08.2022 from
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  5. Retrieved 01.10.2022
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  6. NIH: Office of Dietary Supplements.
    (02.06.2022). Probiotics - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Retrieved 15.08.2022 from
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  7. European Commission, European Green Capital.
    Several European countries move to rule out GMOs.Retrieved 01.10.2022
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  8. European Commission.
    (2021). Biotechnologies:Commission seeks open debate on New Genomic Techniques as study shows potential for sustainable agriculture and need for new policy
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  9. Retrieved 15.08.2022
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  10. Van Engelsdorp, D., & Meixner, M. D.
    (2010). A historical review of managed honey bee populations in Europe and the United States and the factors that may affect them. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 103, S80-S95.
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  11. PEW Research Center.
    (01.12.2016). THE NEW FOOD FIGHTS: U.S. PUBLIC DIVIDES OVER FOOD SCIENCE: Public opinion about genetically modified foods and trust in scientists connected with these foods. Retrieved 15.08.2022
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  12. Woźniak, E., Tyczewska, A., & Twardowski, T.
    (2021). A Shift Towards Biotechnology: Social Opinion in the EU. Trends in Biotechnology, 39(3), 214-218.
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