Canadian firm, Bee Vectoring Technology, is developing a system for delivering biopesticides to crops which could see bees replacing sprayers. The method uses a specially designed tray placed within hives, which coats the bees in a biopesticide power. The bees then carry the powder to the plant and inoculate it. The system is already being used on crops of strawberries and blueberries. Successful trials could see a commercialised system being used to manage sclerotinia in oilseed rape within the next two years. The powder, also developed by the company, contains a naturally occurring beneficial fungus and uses no water. Trials in sunflowers with the same disease also showed a 27% increase in yields.
Canadian firm, Bee Vectoring Technology, is developing a system for delivering biopesticides to crops which could see bees replacing sprayers. The method uses a specially designed tray placed within hives, which coats the bees in a biopesticide power. The bees then carry the powder to the plant and inoculate it. The system is already being used on crops of strawberries and blueberries. Successful trials could see a commercialised system being used to manage sclerotinia in oilseed rape within the next two years. The powder, also developed by the company, contains a naturally occurring beneficial fungus and uses no water. Trials in sunflowers with the same disease also showed a 25% increase in yields.