WSU scientists help develop ‘Power Bars’ to help honey bees survive, thrive

Scientists have developed a food source that can sustain honey bee colonies without pollen, helping the insects not just survive, but thrive.

The innovation, which took more than a decade of work, came from scientists at Washington State University and APIX Biosciences NV in Belgium.

The product is targeted for commercial release in mid-2026 and could combat escalating rates of honey bee colony collapse, safeguarding global food supplies reliant on pollination.

Findings were published April 16 in the journal “Proceedings of the Royal Society B.”

The paper details successful trials with nutritionally stressed colonies deployed for pollination in Washington.

Bees experienced a major measurable change in health with the food source, which resembles Power Bars.

Lacking adequate nutrition

Honey bees often lack adequate nutrition.

“Changes in land use, urban expansion and extreme weather all negatively impact nutrition for honey bees and other pollinators,” said Brandon Hopkins, a WSU professor and co-author of the paper.

The new food source is placed directly into colonies, where young bees process and distribute the essential nutrients to larvae and adult bees.

Supplements with similar approaches, sometimes called “pollen patties,” have been on the market for decades, but don’t meet the full nutritional needs of bees.

“This is the closest thing to an equivalent to actual pollen,” Hopkins said.

A key component of the product is isofucosterol, a molecule found naturally in pollen that acts as a vital nutrient.

Colonies fed with isofucosterol-enriched food survived an entire season without pollen access, while those without it experienced severe declines.

Hopkins expects beekeepers, especially those with poor forage, to adopt the new food source.

He added it could cost slightly more than existing products, but will have a higher return on investment.

Field testing

Leading beekeepers in California and extension teams helped with field testing.

Trials occurred in colonies in blueberry and sunflower fields, both known for poor pollen quality for bees.

“Some beekeepers don’t pollinate blueberries anymore because colonies suffer or die and the pollination fees don’t cover the losses,” Hopkins said.

Chris Hiatt, American Honey Producers Association past president, participated in trials and said they showed great promise.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Hiatt added.

Ryan Burris, California State Beekeepers Association president, also was part of field tests.

“I’ve been using it for a couple of years now and I really, really like it. It performs very well. I’m going to be buying it myself,” he said.

Burris said the food source made split hives stronger.

“It helped them take off and get going a lot faster than I anticipated,” he added.

Man-made feed

Tim Hiatt, a Washington State Beekeepers Association board member and Chris Hiatt’s brother, said other livestock categories have had man-made feeds for many years.

“Beekeepers have never had a protein that could completely replace natural pollen,” Hiatt said.

“If this feed would take the place of missing forage, it would be of huge benefit to our hives’ health. I’ll be excited to try it out,” he added.

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