Oxford Develops Honey Bee Food Supplements Using CRISPR-Cas9

A study led by researchers from the University of Oxford and partners has developed a low-cost, sustainable food supplement that could help reverse the alarming decline in honeybee populations. The supplement, made from edited yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, was shown to significantly improve colony reproduction. The findings were published in Nature.

The research team used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique to modify Yarrowia lipolytica to produce six key sterols, specific lipids found in pollen. The edited yeast biomass was cultured in bioreactors, harvested, and then dried into a powder to produce the sterol-enriched supplement. “For bees, the difference between the sterol-enriched diet and conventional feeds would be comparable to humans eating balanced meals versus meals missing essential nutrients,” explained Dr. Elynor Moore, lead author of the study.

In controlled trials, colonies fed with the sterol-enriched yeast reared up to 15 times more larvae than those on standard diets, while also sustaining brood production longer. The study also found that the sterol profile of the larvae matched that of naturally foraged colonies. While large-scale field trials are still needed, the researchers believe the product could be available to farmers within two years.

For more information, read the article from the University of Oxford or the study from Nature.