Healthy bees in healthy landscapes
Almost 20 million of the world’s 100 million bee colonies die every year. The major cause is varroa destructor, one of the greatest threats to the western honeybee worldwide. Another huge threat is modern land use, agriculture and forestry.
To understand varroa mite infestation levels and make informed and accurate management decisions is vital for the successful beekeeper – and the world. The data from BeeScanning users will ultimately be used to asses best environmental practises. Bees are of course depending on their landscape and vice versa.
We need bees and bees need us.
Varroa has had a devastating impact on honeybee health and the sustainability of beekeeping globally. There are two main things beekeepers need to know about Varroa to act right and save their hives. First, their presence or absence, and second, to get a relevant estimate of actual infestation levels.
HIDDEN MITES CALCULATED
The BeeScanning journey began in 2016 when we found a correlating factor between how many varroa mites that are visible in a photo of bees and how many mites that are found via alcohol sampling of the same bees. Our research showed that there are a specific number of hidden mites for every one found. This discovery meant that it would be possible to analyze bee images for relevant and correct infestation levels, making time consuming and “deadly” methods like alcohol wash and sugar shake unnecessary.
The BeeScanning journey began in 2016 when we found a correlating factor between how many varroa mites that are visible in a photo of bees and how many mites that are found via alcohol sampling of the same bees. Our research showed that there are a specific number of hidden mites for every one found. This discovery meant that it would be possible to analyze bee images for relevant and correct infestation levels, making time consuming and “deadly” methods like alcohol wash and sugar shake unnecessary.
SAVE THE BEES
We developed the BeeScanning app as a modern tool for beekeepers to help them understand mite infestation levels in a bee friendly way – by simply using their mobile camera. The images taken of live bees on the brood frames are instantly analyzed with artificial intelligence and the app quickly analyzes and returns with the actual infestation level. BeeScanning is a unique and patented technology based on our own database – the world’s largest – of manually annotated images of bees.
AWARDS & GOALS
We have received 15 international recognized awards and the BeeScanning app is used worldwide, both as a practical bee saving tool for beekeepers and in research where it enables both analyzing and documenting. We will continue our dedicated work for healthy bees through further tech development and new innovations in the service of beekeeping and the world.
Sustainability
BeeScanning’s work is linked to several of the UN’s 17 global goals for sustainable development.
We focus particularly on promoting the sustainable use of land-based ecosystems.
UN GOALS
OUR GOALS
Goal 2 is to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
Promote beekeeping in the world with diagnosis of bee health.
Goal 9 is to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
Further develop cloud-based image analysis with AI as a tool and develop traceability of food authenticity and origin.
