BOGOTA: Scientists in Colombia have developed a groundbreaking food supplement designed to protect bees’ brains from pesticides, thereby safeguarding them from neurological damage caused by agricultural chemicals. As crucial pollinators, bees play a vital role in maintaining natural ecosystems and food production.
This plant-based supplement, created at Rosario University in Bogotá in collaboration with the University of Arizona’s Department of Neuroscience and Universidad Javeriana in Colombia, helps bees withstand the neurotoxins commonly found in agriculture, preventing harm to their motor functions and memory.
“This is a nutritional solution to the challenges bees face when exposed to pesticides,” said Andre Riveros, an associate professor at Rosario University. “The supplement encourages them to develop protection against these chemicals.”
The formula contains flavonoids, which are plant-derived secondary metabolites known for their health benefits. During the initial development, scientists sedated bees and fed them individually in small laboratory tubes. Testing has now progressed to real-world conditions in a university apiary, as explained by Juan Jose Ovalle, a natural science student.
“We already know there are compounds that enhance bee health and prevent neuronal damage from pesticides,” Ovalle noted, emphasizing the importance of continuing research to improve the effectiveness of these methods in supporting bee populations.