The world’s agricultural landscape is intricately tied to the health and productivity of bee populations, with a significant percentage of crops relying on these pollinators. As the cost of pollination steadily rises, growers are faced with the pressing question of how to maximize the effectiveness of their investment in bee hives. Omer Davidi, cofounder and CEO of California-based precision pollination startup BeeHero, shared insights on this topic during a recent discussion at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in London.
Davidi highlighted a critical pain point for growers: the uncertainty surrounding the quality of rented hives. “The majority of crops need pollination, so farmers typically rent hives,” he explained. “However, there’s no assurance of the quality of hives being deployed in the field. You might end up paying hundreds of dollars per acre, only to discover that 20% of those boxes are empty.” This lack of transparency in the pollination process has led to frustration among farmers, who are increasingly paying more without a clear understanding of what they receive in return.
To address these challenges, BeeHero has developed a model that leverages sensor technology to manage over 300,000 hives worldwide. The company utilizes small sensors placed within beehives to monitor critical parameters like sound, temperature, and humidity. “A beehive is a super organism,” Davidi noted. “If the queen is failing, the bees will behave differently, and we can detect these changes through our data collection.” By continuously monitoring hive conditions, BeeHero can identify issues such as queen failure, starvation, or mite infestations, allowing beekeepers to respond proactively.
Temperature, for instance, plays a crucial role in bee development and hive productivity. If hives exceed certain temperature thresholds, it can hinder the growth of bees and ultimately lead to colony collapse. The soundscape of a hive can also provide valuable insights into bee activity, such as foraging behavior and nectar collection. “By aggregating this data with environmental parameters, we can gauge the effectiveness of pollination,” Davidi explained.
In addition to in-hive monitoring, BeeHero employs in-field sensors to assess pollinator activity in real-time. This approach allows growers to make adjustments based on factors like plant gender alignment and bloom timing. For example, warmer winters, attributed to climate change, can result in male and female trees not flowering simultaneously, leading to sub-optimal pollination. “By adjusting irrigation practices, farmers can synchronize blooming periods, improving pollination quality,” he added.
The implications of this technology extend beyond immediate pollination needs. By providing beekeepers with insights into hive health, BeeHero aims to foster stronger, healthier colonies, ultimately enhancing the quality of hives deployed in the field. “Our model meets the same pricing ballpark that farmers currently pay, but with improved quality of pollinators,” Davidi stated, emphasizing the importance of input versus output in achieving optimal yields.
Since its founding in 2017, BeeHero has made significant strides in the pollination sector, becoming the largest provider in the U.S. market with revenues nearing $100 million. The company has expanded its services beyond almonds to include crops like apples, cherries, and berries. Recently, BeeHero announced its entry into the Latin American market, targeting high-value crops such as avocados and berries, which are heavily dependent on pollinators.
Investors are increasingly recognizing the potential of the pollination tech space. “When we first started, we had to explain why pollination was important,” Davidi remarked. “Now, the growing investment in this field underscores the risks associated with inadequate pollination.” BeeHero has raised approximately $62 million to date, reflecting a broader trend of increasing financial interest in sustainable agricultural practices.
As growers navigate the complexities of pollination in an evolving climate, innovations like those offered by BeeHero are positioned to play a pivotal role in ensuring the health of crops and the sustainability of food production worldwide.