Tae's Blog

The rapid declining population of bees are a significant concern for both scientists and entrepreneurs who capitalize on their production. Bees play an imperative role in the human food chain through pollinating a majority of global crops for consumption. The bees’ role is pertinent in sustaining the world’s physiological needs as well as the economy and its various sectors. This decrease has been well-documented and researched, which has evoked several fundamental causes for the plight of the honeybee. For instance, in a recent finding, American beekeepers lost 44.1% of their hives between March 2015 and April 2016. Researchers note that there are two primary reasons generating this sharp decline; the varroa destructor, parasitic mites that kill bees, and the abundance of US aerial spraying, which is utilized to target mosquitoes that could carry the Zika virus, which also killed an overwhelming number of bees. One article from South Carolina dramatically illustrates the emaciation of bees as a result of their being “nuked.”

To address the ongoing extinction of bees, as well as to mitigate food and financial security issues, the BBC highlights the technology firm, Bee Smart, who developed a tool that monitors hives through live-streaming video to allow beekeepers to easily and efficiently check whether threats to their well-being. Bee Smart compares this to a home-security system, but as opposed to familial protection alone, their innovative product could extend beyond the hive through preventing substantial loss in agriculture and its related markets.  Therefore, the idea of being able to remotely monitor the state of a bee hive is becoming increasingly significant and potentially life-saving.

Delving into the beekeeping industry appears to be a well-informed decision for Bee Smart. In the past, beekeepers have largely been able to ignore significant development of technologies because they simply did not exist, and like other sectors where employee work-ethic and reliability are taxing, bees were evolved to produce. However, Bee Smart will face some competition in the field, as rival firms are producing chemicals for treating varroa, while others pursue breeding varroa-tolerant bees. Although competition exists, Bee Smart stands out because it utilizes non-biological and non-chemical technology. While others are trying to address an inherent weakness of bees, Bee Smart is working to maintain the quality of bee hives, which should entice investing beekeepers who strive to maintain their populations and remain in the market.

Bee Smart is an ethical business that is based on addressing a global issue with a socially responsible goal of maintaining bee populations and doing so without compromising ecological environments. Additionally, Bee Smart has potential to be highly profitable, as there is a high possibility for their technology to assist in increasing agricultural revenue.

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Sources:

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37386490

http://www.beesmarttechnologies.com/en/