California-based BeeHero, a developer of a beehive technology platform intended to maximise crop yields through pollination, has introduced the Pollination Insight Platform (PIP), which uses in-field sensors to measure pollinator activity in crops.
The new solution gathers data on pollinator behavior and environmental conditions to provide AI-driven insights for growers. These insights enable real-time improvements in pollination and crop yield, while also contributing to the world’s largest dataset of bee activity.
The technology builds on BeeHero’s 200K hive network and database of bee behavior, potentially making it the largest of its kind globally.
BeeHero’s Pollination Insight Platform (PIP)
Major food crops—about 75 per cent—rely on pollinators, with bees being the most significant. For sustainable agriculture and the sustainability of the world’s food supply, it is essential to ensure that these crops are pollinated successfully and efficiently.
The number of bee trips to the necessary crop blooms is crucial to the success of pollination and crop output. Growers can assess the effectiveness of pollination and spot any problems in the process by studying the frequency with which bees visit those necessary crops.
This approach improves the efficiency of data collection and supports effective decision-making, contributing to sustainable agriculture. And this is where BeeHero’s PIP comes in.
BeeHero’s plug-and-play in-field sensors monitor bee activity, including flower visits and other bee behavior, and environmental conditions.
Through AI analysis, this data is transformed into actionable insights for real-time decisions by growers, enhancing crop yield. Mobile accessibility of sensor data helps manage hive placements, dates, and pollination strength.
Omer Davidi, co-founder & CEO of BeeHero says, “Bee pollination serves as the bedrock of modern agriculture and future food supply, and yet it has historically been a black box. We are committed to expanding transparency for beekeepers and growers by enabling them to leverage unprecedented data, not only within the hive but, now, beyond it.”
“This new platform empowers growers with crucial knowledge about the actual bee activity in the field – with huge positive implications for seed, row, and other crops. We look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible, driven by our innovative spirit and unparalleled bioresearch team, to serve growers and beekeepers across the globe,” adds Davidi.
BeeHero and Hazera partnership
Hazera, a global vegetable seeds company, partnered with BeeHero to design the Pollination Insight Platform (PIP) solution. After a three-year research project, the platform was commercially deployed in the US, Europe, and Israel.
Avi Gabai, Hazera Production Research Manager says, “Together, we are enabling growers to assess pollination activity at all times, something that was previously not possible. The introduction of this in-field sensing solution marks a significant milestone in the agricultural industry’s ongoing efforts to address the challenges posed by declining bee populations.”
“BeeHero’s expertise in precision pollination, coupled with our extensive knowledge in seed breeding, development, and production, makes this collaboration a powerful force in revolutionising crop pollination practices, paving the way for a more sustainable and productive future for growers worldwide,” adds Gabai.
Here’s how BeeHero’s new PIP sensing solution is valuable
Brief about BeeHero
BeeHero is a data-driven tech company reshaping pollination in agriculture. Through data analytics, AI, and IoT sensors, BeeHero offers efficiency and transparency to the logistics of crop pollination.
The company’s Precision Pollination-as-a-Service (PPaaS) benefits growers with higher yields and profits. This approach is becoming essential for resilient and sustainable agriculture. BeeHero is headquartered in Fresno, California, with offices in Palo Alto and R&D in Tel Aviv.