BOGOTA: Scientists in Colombia say they have developed a novel food supplement that protects bees’ brains from pesticides, keeping the insects safe from neurological damage caused by agricultural chemicals.

The plant-based supplement developed at Colombia’s private Rosario University in Bogota, in partnership with the Department of Neuroscience at the Uni­versity of Arizona and Colombian Univer­sidad Javeriana, allows bees to cope with neurotoxins commonly used in agriculture and avoid having their motor system and memory harmed by the chemicals.

“This is a nutritional solution to the problem bees face when exposed to pesticides,” said Andre Riveros, associate professor at Rosario University. “The food induces them to develop a protection (against pesticides)”.

The formula is created with flavonoids, plant-derived secondary metabolites known for their health benefits.

Sedated and then confined to small laboratory tubes, bees were fed one-by-one by scientists during initial development of the supplement.

Testing has now moved to real-world scenarios in a university apiary, explained Juan Jose Ovalle, a natural science student at the university. “We already know that there are molecules that improve the bees’ health, we already know that there are molecules that prevent neuronal damage caused by pesticides”, Ovalle explained, adding it was important to continue the work to boost the effectiveness of these methods in supporting bees.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2024