Modified by Redacción
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André J. Riveros, in his laboratory. Source: Universidad del Rosario.
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Agricultural or forestry pesticides directly affect the brains of pollinating insects, such as bees. A team of scientists has patented a food that protects bees against pesticides and their harmful effects.
Pesticides are one of the major headaches for beekeepers. These phytosanitary products, widely used in agricultural and livestock production, as well as in some forestry practices, severely affect bees, causing serious problems for colonies and even large mortalities.
Now, a team of researchers from the University of Rosario, in Bogotá, Colombia, has patented a product that, when supplied to bees as a food, stimulates and develops the defenses of their brains, creating a protective shield against the effects of pesticides.
In this article, we tell you how pesticides affect bees and what the protection developed by these Colombian researchers consists of. Keep reading to learn more about this beekeeping innovation.
The team of scientists who have developed this food formula is led by the biologist and doctor in Behavior and Neuroscience André Josafat Riveros, who works in the Department of Biology at the University of Rosario. Riveros and his collaborators have also worked with the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Arizona in the United States.
Together, scientists from both institutions have researched one of the main problems affecting beekeeping worldwide, the catastrophic effects of agricultural pesticides on bees. And they have found a very original solution: a protector based on substances extracted from plants. Their work has been published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, although it has now come to light with the patent resulting from their efforts.
What these researchers have done is start from the damage that pesticides cause to bees: loss of orientation, memory loss, inhibition of motor skills, and decreased defenses against diseases. 'You have a bee that doesn't know where the flowers are or that if it reaches them, it may not remember where the hive is. It is also possible that it does not have enough strength to move between them efficiently and that if it encounters viruses or other pathogens in the environment, it cannot defend itself effectively,' explains Dr. Riveros.
All those pesticide problems are concentrated on one main point: the bees' brains. With that idea in mind, scientists have tried to develop substances capable of 'shielding' the brains of bees and other pollinators to immunize them against the aggression of pesticide chemicals.
And this shielding was in the plants. Riveros' team has experimented with flavonoids, elements present in vegetables (also in honey and pollen) that are well known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. In fact, many flavonoids play prominent roles in the fight against certain types of tumors.
The experiment's director points out that 'we have analyzed that, if these metabolites are recognized to have physiological protective effects in humans, they could also transfer to possibilities of protection in bees'.
And it seems that this is the case: their results show that bees and bumblebees (Bombus impatiens) fed with a flavonoid-rich preparation developed remarkable protection against the impact of pesticides, especially those using the neurotoxins fipronil and imidacloprid, two of the most widespread and dangerous for pollinators.
Furthermore, the data proves that bees fed with that combination of flavonoids not only saw an improvement in their memory, but also increased their ability to learn, make decisions, and develop their motor skills.
Thus, in view of these findings, researchers believe that these flavonoids may be crucial in protecting the cognitive health of pollinating insects. 'Our results suggest that a dietary supplement designed from plant derivatives has a protective effect on some parts of the brain, supporting their use to counteract the harmful effects of pesticides,' says Riveros.
Scientists have developed their food preparation based on flavonoids from molecules that have been encapsulated in the form of microdroplets. That would be the industrial potential finish, a liquid that would feed the bees and, at the same time, protect them.
The preparation is presented in the form of microdroplets. Source: Universidad del Rosario.
This preparation is already protected by a patent that presumably will result in commercial blends that beekeepers could use in their beekeeping practices.
However, in their article, the researchers point out that it is also interesting to promote a greater diversity of plants, so that bees have access to these flavonoids in a natural way. 'It's not just about eating, but about eating well,' concludes Riveros, who believes that specific plantations of these plants could be created in places where it is necessary to protect bees more. In this way, the loss of beehives suffered by the Latin American region and especially Colombia could be reduced.
There are many scientific studies that prove the harmful effects of agricultural, livestock, and forestry pesticides on pollinator populations, especially honeybees.
Some of these pesticide research studies have had a great global impact. This is the case of the work by Siviter, Bailes, and their collaborators, from 2021, published in the very prestigious journal Nature. In that research, they reviewed data from 90 other studies on pesticides and pollinators and reached revealing conclusions, such as the fact that the pesticide cocktails often used by farmers can kill bees at a much higher rate than previously thought.
Furthermore, they found that the combination of different pesticides generates greater stress in bees, leading to lethal synergies.
It is just one of the many scientific studies that prove the harmful effect of these phytosanitary products on pollinators.
These chemicals, widely used in agriculture, have raised concerns due to their negative impact on the health of bees and the biodiversity of pollinators. Specifically, those analyzed in Colombia have these effects:
Fipronil:
Fipronil is a neurotoxic insecticide that acts on the nervous system of insects, including bees. Its uncontrolled use has been associated with the decline in bee populations, as it can affect their ability to search for food, communicate, and navigate. Studies have shown that exposure to fipronil can cause damage to the central nervous system of bees, reduce their learning and memory capacity, and even cause colony death.
Imidacloprid:
On the other hand, imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid widely used in agriculture. This pesticide has been controversial due to its negative impact on bees and other pollinators. Exposure to imidacloprid can affect the nervous system of bees, reduce their ability to collect nectar and pollen, and alter their reproductive behavior. Studies have shown that the presence of imidacloprid in the environment can weaken bee colonies and reduce their ability to resist diseases and parasites.
tractor applying pesticides
In addition to the impact on bees, the indiscriminate use of fipronil and imidacloprid also affects other pollinators such as butterflies, wasps, beetles, and other beneficial insects. These chemicals can contaminate water, soil, and plants, resulting in a decrease in the diversity and abundance of pollinators in agricultural and natural ecosystems.
Mitigation measures:
Faced with this problem, it is essential to implement measures to mitigate the harmful effects of pesticides on bees and other pollinators. Some key actions include:
- Promote sustainable agricultural practices that reduce the dependence on chemical pesticides. * Encourage the use of alternative pesticides that are less toxic to pollinators. * Establish pesticide-free protected areas to preserve natural habitats. * Conduct constant monitoring of bee populations and other pollinators to detect potential negative impacts in time.
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