Commercialization of nutritional pollen substitutes for honeybees
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Institute of Neuroscience
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Geraldine Wright (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | The key findings of this proposal were that there was a substantial market potential for pollen substitutes for honeybee colonies. We specifically focussed this research on the USA because of the large number of commercial beekeepers that need pollen substitutes to maintain thousands of colonies for commercial pollination services. We found that 90% of these beekeepers use pollen substitutes for at least part of the year. Many use them for 6-9 months per year. The total amount of pollen substitutes used by US beekeepers per year was estimated to be about 70 metric tonnes with a market value of over £35 million. |
| Exploitation Route | I am currently writing a business plan for a start up company that will spin out from Newcastle University. The market research was essential for formulating this business plan. I will also apply for Follow on Funding to support the commercialization of my research on bee foods. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Description | This funding allowed me to do market research about the use of pollen substitutes by US beekeepers. It was extremely valuable, and indicated that there was a substantial market for bee foods, potentially worth as much as £35 million/year. This information has been used to inform the development of a business plan for a new start up company that will exploit the IP from a patent I submitted with my collaborators in November 2015. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | BBSRC Responsive mode |
| Amount | £540,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Title | pollen substitute for honeybees |
| Description | Using the data from our IPI funded work, we have developed a formula for a pollen substitute for honeybees. We plan to submit the patent in August 2015 and have applied for BBSRC Follow on Funding in June 2015 to develop the research necessary to support the patent. |
| IP Reference | we are planning to submit the patent in August 2015 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2015 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | We predict that our product will have a noticeable impact on commercial beekeeping. |
| Description | Invited plenary speaker, American Bee Federation meeting, Jacksonville, FL, USA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave an award winning plenary talk on my lab's work on the nutrition of bees to a large group of international beekeepers at the American Bee Federation meeting in the US. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited speaker and participant, 'Explorers of knowledge for the benefit of humanity' symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was an event organized my collaborator, Sharoni Shafir's, institution (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) in Berlin to aid in fund raising for his university. We hope that we have reached potential investors in our developing spin out company. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Invited speaker, California Queen Breeders' association, Ord Bend, CA, USA |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk to commercial beekeepers in California about the use of nutritional pollen substitutes and bee nutrition. This is a group of people that have a great need to improve bee nutrition for commercial reasons. I am currently working with them and making contacts so that I can develop a means of feeding bees with substances that meet the honeybee's requirements for essential nutrients. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |