Mr Sade, founder of tech firm BloomX, says that the company has found a way to mechanically pollinate crops in a similar way to bees. According to bbc.com Sade stated “We are not replacing bees but rather, offering more efficient pollinating methods to farmers, and reducing the dependence on commercial honeybees.” bbc.com wrote that 3/4 of plants that grow around the world produce fruits or seeds for human consumption that are reliant, at least in part, on pollinators. Bees have been estimated to account for 75 percent of pollination for fruits, nuts and vegetables in America with the remaining quarter being other insects such as wasps and butterflies.
Unfortunately, not only to the farmers but also the bees, climate change has put bees under pressure as well as in Europe where they have a parasite called Varroa Destructor. The bees are put under even more pressure because of their transportation into other countries for the growth of plants which lead to a high mortality rate. Transporting bees not only harms the bees but also other insects as Sade said that bees “poses a threat to indigenous wild bees who are forced to compete for food, and are exposed to new diseases,” putting them in danger as well. BloomX aims to reduce the reliance on bees by using Robe, which has two arms that cause a vibration similar to those of bumble bees as they have been found to be great for pollination in blueberries.
The firm’s other product is Crossbee, a handheld tool for collecting and spreading sticky pollen grains between avocado trees. Today, the equipment is being used in South America, South Africa, Spain, the US and Israel, and BloomX says it can increase fruit yields by 30%. Both products are controlled by an AI-based software system linked to a mobile phone app, and each is fitted with a GPS tool so that farm workers know which areas of a field have been treated. Mr. Ram is the boss of another tech firm specializing in artificial pollination and he said “We can do it for apples, cherries, almonds, pistachios, and our machines fertilize with precision.” Mr. Ram wants to relieve the stress of the bees and allow them to harvest naturally while also allowing the world to use vegetables, fruits, and other plants.
