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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #423744
Research Project: Conduct Longitudinal Studies on Colony Performance and Explore Near-term Effects of Nutritional and Agrochemical Stressors on Honey Bee Health

Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health

Title: Harnessing biotechnology for bee pollinator health

Author
item Ricigliano, Vincent
item Fine, Julia
item NICKLISCH, SASCHA - University Of California, Davis

Submitted to: Trends in Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/2025
Publication Date: 6/21/2025
Citation: Ricigliano, V.A., Fine, J.D., Nicklisch, S. 2025. Harnessing biotechnology for bee pollinator health. Trends in Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.027.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.027

Interpretive Summary: Bees play a crucial role in pollinating crops and maintaining biodiversity, but their populations are declining due to multiple overlapping threats. Current mitigation strategies have struggled to keep up with these challenges. Biotechnology offers new tools to protect bees and support the future of beekeeping. Advanced genetic and data-driven techniques can help scientists understand and strengthen bee populations, while new molecular treatments provide targeted, chemical-free ways to keep hives healthy. Researchers are also exploring ways to improve bee nutrition and resilience by engineering beneficial gut bacteria, developing bee-friendly crops, and creating better artificial diets. This article explores the latest breakthroughs in biotechnology that could help bees survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Technical Abstract: Bees are vital pollinators, supporting global food security and biodiversity. However, their populations are threatened by a steady flux of interacting stressors. Current mitigation strategies are falling short in addressing the complexity and scale of these threats. Biotechnology offers innovative solutions to protect essential pollination services and secure the future of beekeeping. Omics tools guided by artificial intelligence can unlock new possibilities for strengthening bee populations and improve their ability to adapt to emerging challenges. Molecular and bio-based treatments offer precise, non-chemical inputs for managed hives. Synthetic biology enables engineered gut microbiomes, pollinator-friendly crops, and artificial diets that are tailored to bee health. Here, we discuss recent progress and future directions of biotechnology to help bees cope with the pace of a rapidly changing world.