The Israeli startup getting a buzz out of saving honeybees

What do cucumbers, avocados and coffee all have in common? Aside from being absolute necessities (yes, avocados too), they’re all crops pollinated by bees. And if things keep heading in the direction they’re at, we’re screwed. Considered by many to be annoying little pests buzzing precariously near our ears, bees are extremely important. About one third of all plants and plant products consumed by humans are dependent on bee pollination. Unfortunately, the combination of modern demand and natural stresses such as climate change, pests and illness mean that the global bee population is dying at a dizzying rate, endangering our diets and well-being. To combat this, efforts are being made to rehabilitate the bee population. In Israel these endeavors are given a very Start-Up Nation twist, complete with computer vision, artificial intelligence and precision robotics.

The above are part of the world’s first autonomous beehive, developed by Israeli start-up Beewise. Called Beehome, it’s a device that can house up to 40 bee colonies – that’s 2 million bees – and take care of their health and upkeep through a simple app on the beekeeper’s phone or tablet. “It’s what’s called a disruptive innovation,” says Beewise CEO Saar Safra. “We’re coming to replace all the beehives in the world.”

Updating the hive

The idea for an autonomous beehive came from Safra’s business partner Eliyah Radzyner. A beekeeper by profession, Radzyner was aghast at the fact that beekeeping methods have not progressed for ages. He was convinced that a computer, machine or robot could do a much better job, and joined forces with Safra, a serial entrepreneur.-- More...