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With an expected population of 9bn by 2020, the importance of bee colonies to food production cannot be underestimated.
Disease from the Varroa tick, environmental factors such as habitat modification and the use of chemicals are threatening bee populations across the world, chief scientist of ApisProtect Padraig Whelan told the Irish Farmers Journal.
From speaking to Fiona Edwards Murphy, CEO and co-founder of Cork-based ApisProtect, it is clear the potential for their product is massive.
The internet of things (Iot) that is used by ApisProtect is the concept of bringing sensors into the real world and allowing for the monitoring of beehives 24/7 in all conditions.
Sensors
The device is retrofitted into the beehive using two screws and a screwdriver. This device has five built-in sensors measuring humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide, sound and acceleration.
Mobile networks are used to collect the data from every individual hive using a technique called machine learning. Machine learning identifies patterns and gathers information from past experience of healthy and unhealthy hives.
The device is able to judge the condition of the hive and send smart texts or emails to the beekeeper with updates of disease status and suggests actions to improve the health and reduce losses.
The key selling point for the beekeeper is they do not need to check every hive each day, only the problem hives. For example, a beekeeper may have a couple of hundred hives but this device will tell the beekeeper which exact hive has a problem that needs to be fixed which cuts labour costs for checking each hive.
Challenges
Labour has been a problem for the company due to the high level of competition from other technology companies that can attract employees easier. Only last week they took on their first member of staff but they hope to employ up to a dozen at the end of this year and up to 30 in five years’ time. Trials will begin with up to 150 units going to the USA which has the largest diversity in biomes but it has taken a lot of work to get to this stage in the product’s development.
Influence on farming
There are just 3,000 beekeepers in Ireland but there is massive potential for our products including honey sales and the renting of beehives for crop production. Currently in Ireland we do not practice the use of renting beehives for crop pollination as it is done naturally.
However, pollination by large amounts of bees for one crop will shorten the ripening season as well as increase the production of the crop which is vital to increase the margin for profit.
What’s next for ApisProtect?
Their aim is to have their device in 300,000 beehives in five years’ time. Although this seems a small amount out of 91bn beehives globally, with more developments in technology and increased labour the company can expand in a short time period.
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