Human livelihood depends on the survival of听bees听
Bees are one of the planet鈥檚 hardest working creatures.听Approximately听two thirds of the world鈥檚 crops rely on pollination听to create fruits and seeds healthy enough for human consumption. This pollination directly correlates with human nutrition, as not only听does听it increase听crop yields, but听it also听allows for more variety and听higher听quality harvests [2].听In addition to impacting the world鈥檚 food supply, bees are also responsible for the livelihood/health of many plant-derived medicines. If bees were to disappear it would lead to devastating consequences for听the human race, which is why many tech companies, such as听Beewise, are using modern technology to improve their chance of survival.听听听
Bees are disappearing at an alarming rate听听
There are a variety of threats facing the bee population, including climate change, habitat destruction, and the use of pesticides. As they are especially sensitive to changes in temperature, the rising global temperatures have caused the number of areas populated by bees in North America to fall by 46% [4]. A major share of the bee population is grown and maintained by beekeepers听who are struggling to keep up with the treatment and care needed to keep up with the听bees鈥櫶齬apid decline. The technology they are currently using is approximately听150 years听old and听includes nothing more than white wooden boxes and听physical inspections by the beekeepers every 3-4 weeks [1]. Often, by the time these inspections occur, beekeepers will find that their hives have already begun to听collapse,听and little can be done to save them.听听
Saving the bees through technology听
The future of the bees is unclear, but companies like听Beewise听are working to aid in their recovery. They have created a product called the听Beehome, which allows beekeepers to watch and care for their hives in real time. The digital hive uses computer vision to monitor the bees 24/7, and its AI technology identifies their needs in real time. The device eliminates the need for human听intervention and听employs precision robotics to provide treatment as soon as it is needed. Beekeepers听are able to听control factors such as climate and humidity levels, eliminate pests, automate the harvesting of honey, as well as receive real time problem alerts if in-person attention is required. The device costs a mere $15 USD a month to operate听per hive, and it contains 24 hives per device [3]. It possesses听the resources and space to be home to 2 million bees at a time.听听
What this means听
Without help, the bee population is at risk of going extinct. The use of smart technologies,听such as the听Beehome,听have the potential to double pollination and honey production, while at the same time reducing the bee population鈥檚 mortality rate. As听the human race听relies听so heavily on the survival of bees, it is vital that we use all technology known to us to help them.听
References
[1] Beewise.听(n.d.).听Our Impact听听
[2] Food and听Agricultural Organization. (2019, May 20).听Declining bee populations pose threat to global food security and nutrition.听听
[3] Godin, M. (2020,听November听19).听Beewise听Beehome: The 100 best inventions of 2020.听听
[4] Mooney, C. (2020,听February听06).听Bumblebees听are听dying听across听North America and Europe as the听climate听WARMS,听scientists听say.听听
