PoshBee · Project

Better Testing and Monitoring Tools to Keep Bees Healthy and Crops Pollinated

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Bees pollinate the food we eat, but pesticides and diseases are killing them — and nobody fully understood what was happening at a European scale. PoshBee brought together 43 partners across 14 countries to run the first continent-wide health check on honey bees, bumble bees, and solitary bees. Think of it like a massive medical study, but for bees — tracking how chemicals, diseases, and poor nutrition combine to weaken them. They came out with better blood-test-like markers (using proteins) to spot sick bees early, improved safety tests for pesticides, and risk models that predict where bees are most in danger.

By the numbers

consortium partners involved

countries where methods were validated

project deliverables produced

industry organizations in the consortium

major cropping systems studied

bee types covered (honey, bumble, solitary)

The business problem

What needed solving

Billions of euros in European crop production depend on bee pollination, yet bee populations are declining due to pesticides, diseases, and poor nutrition acting together. Current safety testing for agrochemicals only covers honey bees with single-chemical tests, missing the real-world picture where multiple stressors combine — leaving agrochemical companies exposed to regulatory risk and food producers vulnerable to pollination shortfalls.

The solution

What was built

The project produced improved protocols for testing agrochemicals across three bee species (not just honey bees), validated field sampling protocols for pan-European monitoring, molecular markers based on proteomics for early bee health detection, a comparative study of BeeTyping® as a sanitary monitoring tool, and dynamic landscape environmental risk assessment models — totalling 63 deliverables.

Audience

Who needs this

Agrochemical and crop protection manufacturers needing pollinator-safe product testingCommercial beekeeping operations losing colonies to unexplained causesEnvironmental risk assessment and ecotoxicology consultanciesFood and agriculture companies dependent on pollination for crop yieldsRegulatory affairs teams preparing for stricter EU pollinator protection rules

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Agrochemical manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Pesticide and crop protection product manufacturers

If you are a crop protection company needing to prove your products are safe for pollinators — this project developed improved protocols for testing agrochemicals in bees, covering not just honey bees but also bumble bees and solitary bees. These new testing methods, developed with input from 9 industry partners, go beyond current regulatory requirements and can help you get ahead of tightening EU pollinator safety rules before your competitors do.

Commercial beekeeping and pollination services

SME

Target: Professional beekeeping operations and pollination service providers

If you are a beekeeping business losing colonies and struggling to pinpoint why — this project created molecular markers based on proteomics that work like early-warning blood tests for bee health. The BeeTyping® sanitary plan tested across the consortium gives you a practical monitoring system. With field sampling protocols validated across 14 countries and two major cropping systems, you get standardized tools to track colony health before losses hit your bottom line.

Environmental risk assessment consulting

mid-size

Target: Ecotoxicology labs and environmental consultancies

If you are an environmental consultancy advising food producers or regulators on pollinator risk — this project built dynamic landscape-level environmental risk assessment models for bees. With 63 deliverables including validated field sampling protocols and data from 14 countries, you gain ready-made assessment methods that cover chemical mixtures, pathogen interactions, and nutritional stress rather than testing single chemicals in isolation.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt these testing protocols?

The project has not published pricing for its outputs. As a publicly funded Research and Innovation Action, many protocols and methods are likely available through open-access publications. However, specific tools like BeeTyping® may involve licensing — direct contact with the coordinator at Royal Holloway is the best path to clarify terms.

Can these methods work at industrial scale for large agrochemical companies?

The protocols were tested across 14 countries and two major cropping systems with 43 consortium partners, including 9 industry organizations. This pan-European validation suggests the methods are designed for broad adoption. Scaling to routine industrial use would still require integration into existing lab workflows.

Who owns the intellectual property — can my company use this?

IP ownership follows EU Horizon 2020 rules, meaning each partner typically owns what they developed. BeeTyping® appears to be a pre-existing branded tool that was further validated in this project. For specific licensing, contact the coordinating institution (Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, UK).

How does this help with upcoming EU pollinator regulations?

The EU is tightening rules on pesticide approval and pollinator protection. PoshBee's improved protocols for testing agrochemicals in bees — covering three bee species, not just honey bees — directly align with the regulatory direction. Companies adopting these methods now position themselves ahead of stricter requirements.

How long before these tools are ready for routine commercial use?

The project ran from 2018 to 2023 and has closed. Protocols and molecular markers have been validated in field conditions across 14 countries. Some outputs like improved testing protocols are likely ready for adoption now, while the risk assessment models may need further software packaging for commercial users.

Can these tools integrate with our existing monitoring systems?

The project developed standardized field sampling protocols and molecular markers designed for long-term monitoring schemes. Based on available project data, integration feasibility depends on your current setup, but the standardized nature of the protocols — validated across multiple countries and bee species — suggests they were built with interoperability in mind.

Consortium

Who built it

PoshBee is a large consortium of 43 partners across 14 countries, with a healthy mix that includes 14 universities, 9 industry partners, 6 research organizations, and 14 other entities (likely NGOs, beekeeping associations, and government bodies). The 21% industry ratio and 4 SMEs show meaningful private-sector involvement — the objective specifically mentions commercial bumble bee and solitary bee producers and ecotoxicological industry as partners. This means the science was developed alongside the companies that would actually use it, not in an ivory tower. The pan-European spread (from Estonia to Spain, UK to Bulgaria) means the results have been tested in diverse agricultural and climatic conditions, which is critical for any company wanting tools that work beyond a single region.

ROYAL HOLLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGECoordinator · UK
BIOBEST GROUP NVparticipant · BE
AARHUS UNIVERSITETparticipant · DK
MARTIN-LUTHER-UNIVERSITAT HALLE-WITTENBERGparticipant · DE
EIDGENOESSISCHES DEPARTEMENT FUER WIRTSCHAFT, BILDUNG UND FORSCHUNGparticipant · CH
THE UNIVERSITY OF READINGparticipant · UK
THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLINparticipant · IE
CONFEDERAZIONE NAZIONALE COLDIRETTIparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI UDINEparticipant · IT
ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAET FREIBURGparticipant · DE
HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR UMWELTFORSCHUNG GMBH - UFZparticipant · DE
UNIVERSITAET BERNparticipant · CH
PANSTWOWY INSTYTUT WETERYNARYJNY - PANSTWOWY INSTYTUT BADAWCZYparticipant · PL
SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITETparticipant · SE
UNIVERSIDAD DE MURCIAparticipant · ES
TEAGASC - AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITYparticipant · IE
UNIVERSITE DE MONSparticipant · BE
NEMZETI ELELMISZERLANC-BIZTONSAGI HIVATALparticipant · HU
UNIVERSITE DE BORDEAUXparticipant · FR
EESTI MAAULIKOOLparticipant · EE
PENSOFT PUBLISHERSparticipant · BG
INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENTparticipant · FR
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
ASOCIACION REGIONAL DE EMPRESAS AGRICOLAS Y GANADERAS DE LA COMUNIDAD AUTONOMA DE MURCIA (ADEA-ASJA)participant · ES
CONSIGLIO PER LA RICERCA IN AGRICOLTURA E L'ANALISI DELL'ECONOMIA AGRARIAparticipant · IT
AGENCE NATIONALE DE LA SECURITE SANITAIRE DE L ALIMENTATION DE L ENVIRONNEMENT ET DU TRAVAILparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College (University of London), UK — a leading research university. The coordinator can be reached through the project website or university directory.

Order a report on this consortium See ROYAL HOLLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGE profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to adopt PoshBee's testing protocols or monitoring tools for your business? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right research team — contact us for a tailored introduction.

Order a report on this topic More in Food & Agriculture