http://inhabitat.com/pro-bee-iotics-designed-to-protect-honey-bees-against-neonicotinoids/
Not sure if its just a feel good story or if they are onto something....seems like a viscous cycle that we would need to feed another "supplement" to the bees to help them get past the bad stuff...and if I was a conspiracy theorist I would say there is a hidden big Ag link and they are out to tax us, the beekeeper, and force us to buy a product to protect our bees from another of their products ;-P
I'm unimpressed. This is the paragraph that bothered me:
" Though the pesticide [neonics] has been thoroughly studied, the bacteria used by the students is quite mysterious. ?It?s a difficult process because there?s not much research on the bacteria we?re working with,? says Darren Christy, UBC student. ?We?ve been trying different ways to get the genes into the bacteria.? The students envision their pro-bee-otic solution mixed with sucrose being fed to hungry bees, which then spread the good bacteria to their colony mates. The students will be presenting their project at the 2015 International Genetically Engineered Machine competition in Boston.
Read more: New pro-bee-iotics could protect honeybees against neonicotinoid pesticides | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building"
So, basically, they're using a mysterious bacterium, which they are going to genetically engineer with heaven only knows what else, to make bees neonic proof. Maybe.
It gives me a really bad feeling. I'm way past leery of this genetically engineered future that academics and big ag have their sights on.
Yah I shared it more as a curiosity piece...and the conspiracy theory references were tongue in cheek... :smile:
I doubt very much it is mysterious. Just not studied. A lot of things in life are well known but just not thoroughly studied.