What was the challenge/problem addressed?
The effects of climate change are increasingly felt in all agricultural sectors, including beekeeping. Due to the reduction of natural habitats and feed sources, as well as unpredictable weather, natural food for bees are not available in sufficient quality and quantity at certain times of the year. This periodic quantitative and qualitative starvation leads to a reduction in colony productivity and a deterioration in bee health. The aim of our innovation project was to develop a bee feed that can provide a balanced diet for bee colonies that is similar to natural pollen.
The demand itself, and the idea of the project, came from the beekeepers to the beekeeping consultant. In recent years, many beekeepers have reported huge losses due to the lack of pollen. The young farmers (beekeepers), the consultant and the researcher jointly searched for the answer to this problem, which resulted in the creation of this innovation, the new generation pollen substitute.
An important part of the innovation process was to verify the positive effect of bee feed on bee colonies and individual bees with both laboratory and field tests.
How did you solve the problem?
As a result of the co-creation, the innovation players set the goal that the bee feed should have nutritional values similar to natural pollen, and should have a similar effect on bees.
The first step in the realisation of the innovation was the planning phase, using the i2connect project Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (NAK) training for consultants in Hungary and the i2c methodologies learned during the cross-visit in Niederalteich, Germany. We integrated the innovation spiral and the triangle of co- creation for the successful realisation of the project.
The next step was the creation of an experimental feed with researchers and beekeepers which was first tested in the laboratory and later in the field, under the coordination of the advisor.
What is innovative in your practical case?
The aim of the study was to measure and monitor the lifespan, body weight and muscle mass of bees consuming different bee feeds, as well as the mineral, protein and fat content of their bodies, in comparison with natural pollen.
At the same time, the consultant carried out field tests together with the beekeepers, in which they assessed the effects on honey producing bee colonies, for example brood area, the production of royal jelly, which is an important food for developing bees and queens.
What are the success factors in solving the problem?
The studies found that the developed feed achieved similar results to natural pollen on honey bee colonies and could successfully help colonies through the critical periods pollen shortage.
Lessons learned
The i2c innovation spiral and the tirangle of co-creation helped to identify this good practice. Furthermore, the knowledge transfer consultant is able to recognise, identify, surface and make a success of the bottom-up initiative.
What role does the advisor or advisory service play with the practical case?
The advisor played a key role in the innovation, the beekeepers in the area contacted him with their problems. The adviser recognised the need to connect farmers and researchers. He helped building the network between the AKIS actors. He also took it to the next level, because in March 2022 he participated in the i2connect training for NAK advisors, and at the cross-visit in Germany, furthermore he was one of the facilitator at the Hungarian cross-visit in Győr, so he has already applied the methodology he learned in the i2c project!!! Triangle of co-creation, innovation spiral, etc.
Can your approach be transferred and/or adapted for other innovation challenges and regions?
Yes
Estimated transferability on a scale from 1 to 5
(where 1 is easy and 5 very difficult)
1
For sharing the experience on the good practice, please contact
Agnes Jakab, Miklós Sörfőző
Miklós Sörfőző: +36305082165 or +36304932895; Ágnes Jakab: +36703839189
Link to external information
info@mybeefeed.com, +36305082165, www.mybeefeed.com