Emma Wilson
Honey bees are critical to crop production and food biosecurity worldwide. However, in recent years, beekeepers have been losing about 30% of their hives annually due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). This has led to a decline in the health of honey bee populations, threatening food security. In response, researchers have been investigating the potential benefits of mushroom mycelium extracts in supporting bee health. This field of study, known as mushroom beekeeping, has yielded promising results, suggesting that mushroom mycelium extracts can provide essential nutrition and enhance the immune system of bees, making them more resilient to viruses and parasites.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Honey bee population decline | Caused by Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) |
| CCD causes | Parasitic mites, pesticides, and increased viral levels |
| BeeFriendly™ | Research initiative to reverse CCD |
| BeeFriendly™ team members | Paul Stamets, Dr. Steve Sheppard, and the Washington State Beekeepers Association |
| BeeFriendly™ experiments | Honey bees drank different mushroom mycelium extracts |
| Results | Mushroom mycelium extracts provide essential nutrition and immune benefits to bees |
| BeeMushroomed Feeder™ (BMF™) | A delivery system for mushroom mycelium extract |
| Mushroom mycelium | Provides an alternative source of protein to pollen and other plant-derived substances |
| Mushroom extracts | Help bees fight viruses, including the deformed wing virus (DWV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) |
| Mushroom supplementation | Increases the response of some bee immunity genes |
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What You'll Learn
The link between bees and mushrooms
The cause of CCD is not fully understood but is believed to be a combination of factors, including pesticides, parasitic mites, and increased viral levels. In the face of this crisis, groundbreaking research called BeeFriendly was initiated in 2014 to help reverse the devastating declines in the global bee population. The research, led by mycologist Paul Stamets, Dr Steve Sheppard, and the Washington State Beekeepers Association, explored the potential benefits of mushroom mycelium extracts in supporting the health of honey bee populations.
Stamets' interest in the relationship between bees and mushrooms was sparked by an observation he made in his backyard in 1984, where he noticed bees sipping on droplets of liquid that had oozed from the mycelium of mushrooms. He suspected that bees derived some benefit from these sugar-rich fungal roots and theorized that certain mushrooms could provide health benefits to honey bees. Subsequent experiments confirmed that mushroom mycelium extracts provide essential nutrition and immune benefits to bees.
Field trials have shown that extracts from specific mushroom species, such as Fomes and Ganoderma, can significantly reduce virus levels in honey bees. For example, colonies fed Ganoderma resinaceum extract exhibited a 79-fold reduction in deformed wing virus (DWV) levels and a 45,000-fold reduction in Lake Sinai virus (LSV) levels compared to control colonies. Additionally, supplementation with Agaricus mushroom extracts has been found to improve bee survival from infections by parasites that affect queen bees.
The discovery of the link between bees and mushrooms offers a creative and effective solution to the serious threats facing local beekeepers. By harnessing the power of mushrooms, beekeepers can help strengthen the immunity of bees, improve their survival rates, and ultimately, contribute to the sustainability of food security worldwide.
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How mushroom extracts reduce viruses in bees
Honey bees are critical to crop production and food biosecurity worldwide. However, over the past decade, beekeepers have experienced a dramatic increase in annual colony losses, with losses averaging well over 30%. This phenomenon is known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). While the causes of CCD are not fully understood, it appears to be a destructive combination of factors, including pesticides, parasitic mites, and increased viral levels.
One of the worst viruses affecting bees is the deformed wing virus (DWV), which is transmitted by the Varroa destructor mite. DWV robs bees of their flight, undermines their immune system, and weakens their ability to pollinate. Bees with DWV have been observed to have shrunken and misshapen wings, and their flying time is cut by almost half. Another virus affecting bees is the Lake Sinai virus (LSV).
In light of this, researchers have been studying how mushroom extracts may help reduce viruses that contribute to CCD. The mushrooms in question belong to the genera Fomes and Ganoderma, also known as amadou and reishi, respectively. These mushrooms have been shown to possess potent antiviral properties against dangerous infections in other organisms, such as swine flu, pox viruses, and HIV.
Field trials have shown that feeding bees with Fomes and Ganoderma extracts significantly reduced DWV and LSV levels. In one study, colonies fed G. resinaceum extracts exhibited a 79-fold greater reduction in DWV and a 45,000-fold greater reduction in LSV compared to control colonies fed only sugar syrup. Additionally, in caged bees infected with DWV, researchers observed an 800-fold decrease in virus titres among bees dosed with amadou extract.
The mechanism by which these mushroom extracts reduce virus titres in bees is not yet fully understood. It could be that the extracts boost the bees' immune systems, inhibit the virus directly, or affect the way the virus replicates inside the bees. Further research is needed to fully comprehend the process and potential long-term effects.
Overall, mushroom extracts show promising results in reducing viruses in bees, and they may play a crucial role in helping to combat CCD and improve bee health and population stability.
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The impact of mushroom mycelium extracts on bee health
Honey bees play a critical role in crop production and food biosecurity worldwide. However, in recent years, beekeepers have experienced a dramatic increase in annual colony losses, with Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) being a significant contributor. Since its initial detection in 2006, CCD has caused honey bee keepers to lose about 30% of their hives annually. While the exact cause of CCD is not fully understood, it appears to be a destructive combination of factors, including pesticides, parasitic mites, and increased viral levels.
To address this issue, researchers have explored the potential of mushroom mycelium extracts to improve bee health. Initial studies conducted by Paul Stamets, a leading mycologist, and Dr. Steve Sheppard, an entomologist, indicated that mushroom mycelium extracts provide essential nutrition that boosts the immune system of bees. This nutritional support translates into improved hive health, helping bees combat diseases like CCD.
Subsequent research has focused on the antiviral properties of mushroom mycelium extracts. Field trials have shown that extracts from specific mushroom species, such as Fomes (Amadou) and Ganoderma (Reishi), significantly reduce the levels of two common viruses in honey bees: the deformed wing virus (DWV) and the Lake Sinai virus (LSV). In one study, colonies fed Ganoderma resinaceum extract exhibited a 79-fold reduction in DWV levels and a remarkable 45,000-fold reduction in LSV levels compared to control colonies.
The BeeMushroomed Feeder™ (BMF™), a patent-pending delivery system designed by Paul Stamets and Paul Taylor, aims to make mushroom mycelium extract easily accessible to bees. This innovation has the potential to create powerful points of health and nutrition for bees across diverse landscapes.
The positive impact of mushroom mycelium extracts on bee health offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against CCD and other bee health threats. By providing bees with essential nutrition and enhancing their immune systems, these extracts may play a crucial role in sustaining bee populations and, consequently, ensuring food biosecurity worldwide.
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The role of bees in food security
Bees are essential for food security, playing a critical role in ensuring humans have reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. They do this primarily through pollination, which is the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organs (anthers) of a flower to the female reproductive organs (stigma) of the same or another flower, enabling fertilization and the production of seeds and fruits. This process is fundamental to the reproduction of many plant species, including those that humans rely on for food.
Bees are responsible for pollinating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Some of the most bee-dependent crops include apples, blueberries, cherries, almonds, avocados, cranberries, pumpkins, and soy. Bees contribute to the production of a significant portion of the world's food, with an estimated 70% of plants unable to reproduce without them. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, of the 100 crop varieties that provide 90% of the world's food, 71 are pollinated by bees. In the US, the value of pollination services provided by bees is estimated to be $20-30 billion annually, with managed honey bee colonies contributing over $15 billion annually to the US agricultural economy.
The decline in bee populations poses a significant threat to global food production, biodiversity, and economic stability. This decline has been linked to several factors, including the use of pesticides, urbanization, agriculture, deforestation, parasites, and diseases. For example, the varroa mite and neonicotinoid pesticides can decimate honeybee colonies, and viruses such as the deformed wing virus (DWV) and Lake Sinai virus (LSV) have contributed to recent declines in honey bee health.
To address the decline in bee populations and safeguard food security, several measures have been proposed and implemented. These include transitioning to bee-friendly farming practices that minimize pesticide use, creating and protecting pollinator-friendly habitats, encouraging the conservation of native bee species, conducting research to understand bee behavior and health, and raising public awareness about the importance of bees. Organizations such as the United Nations have launched initiatives like "Global Action on Pollinators" to address the decline of pollinators and their impact on food security.
Additionally, innovative solutions such as the BeeMushroomed Feeder™ (BMF™) aim to support bee health. This patent-pending technology is a delivery system for mushroom mycelium extract, providing bees with essential nutrition and immune benefits. Research has shown that extracts of polypore mushroom mycelia can reduce viruses in honey bees, including DWV and LSV levels. By sustaining the health of bee populations, such initiatives contribute to the overall goal of ensuring food security for current and future generations.
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Bee-keeping industry challenges
Beekeeping is important for food security, poverty reduction, health, environmental protection, and plant pollination. However, the industry faces several challenges. Firstly, the number of honey-producing colonies in the US decreased by 5.9% in 2023 due to colony collapse disorder (CCD) and unpredictable weather, causing higher prices and gaps filled by low-cost imports. This has resulted in a 2.9% decline in industry revenue over the past five years, with a projected market size decline over the next five years.
The beekeeping industry is highly fragmented, with small-scale beekeepers thriving in regional markets but facing intense competition. Climate change, agricultural land management, and business practices also pose challenges. For example, the almond industry's shift towards "self-fertile" tree cultivars reduces the need for bee hives. Additionally, demand for California almonds in export markets like China and India dropped during the pandemic, impacting the bee industry.
Bee and hive health is another significant concern. Bees face various pests, including parasitic mites, viruses, bacteria, and microsporidians. The varroa mite, in particular, has been a dominant challenge. Efforts to address these issues include partnering with farmers to plant good bee forage crops and using innovative technologies such as the BeeMushroomed Feeder™, which provides mushroom mycelium extract to enhance bee health and reduce viruses.
Furthermore, the North American commercial bee industry is based on a species imported from Europe, which may face challenges in adapting to local conditions. Regulatory approvals related to bee health and management could also be expedited to support the industry better. Overall, while honeybees are not in decline, the beekeeping industry must address these challenges through rational assessments and focused efforts.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom beekeeping is a method of beekeeping that involves feeding bees mushroom mycelium extracts to improve their health and support their immune systems.
Since the initial detection of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in 2006, honey beekeepers have lost roughly 30% of their hives annually. This has led to a decline in the global bee population, which is critical to crop production and food biosecurity worldwide.
Mushroom beekeeping involves providing bees with mushroom mycelium extracts, which they naturally feed on. These extracts provide essential nutrition and confer immune benefits to bees, helping them fight off infections and viruses such as the deformed wing virus (DWV).
