Robotic Beehives: AI’s Solution to Climate Change for Bee Conservation

The global food supply chain is increasingly reliant on the tireless work of bees. These crucial pollinators are responsible for the propagation of more than a third of the crops we consume annually. However, bee populations are facing an unprecedented crisis, with some estimates indicating that as much as 40% of bee colonies are collapsing each year, according to California-based Beewise.

This alarming trend is attributed to a complex interplay of factors, with climate change at the forefront. Erratic weather patterns, including increasingly severe hurricanes and more frequent wildfires, coupled with the pervasive use of pesticides, are decimating bee populations on a global scale.

Traditional beekeeping methods, reliant on the wooden beehive invented in the mid-19th century, are proving inadequate to safeguard these vital insects. These basic structures offer limited protection against the elements and fail to provide the optimal nurturing environment necessary for bee colony survival.

Enter Beewise, a startup aiming to revolutionize beekeeping through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. The company’s flagship product, the BeeHome, is an AI-powered, robotic beehive designed to be rented by growers, offering a technologically advanced alternative to traditional methods.

“A robotic beehive is essentially backwards compatible; it uses the same frames and accommodates the same bees as a traditional hive. However, within the BeeHome, strategically placed cameras are constantly monitoring the bees,” explains Saar Safra, CEO of Beewise. “These cameras feed data into AI software that meticulously analyzes the behavior of each individual bee, identifying its specific needs.”

The BeeHome’s robotic apparatus can then autonomously address these needs. “If the AI detects a food shortage, the robot will dispense food from an internal reservoir. Similarly, it can administer medicine, regulate temperature, and even protect the bees from harsh weather conditions such as storms, ensuring their comfort and safety,” Safra elaborates.

The potential impact of this technology is underscored by events such as hurricanes Helene and Milton, which ravaged thousands of commercial beehives across Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina last year.

While the initial cost of a BeeHome is comparable to that of a traditional wooden beehive, its robotic management capabilities can handle up to ten hives simultaneously, resulting in significant labor cost savings for growers. Future iterations of the BeeHome promise even greater scalability, a feature that has garnered considerable interest from investors.

“In the coming years, you can expect a BeeHome that manages not just ten, but up to forty or more hives,” says John Caddedu, co-founder and general partner at Corner Ventures. “This increased capacity translates into substantial operating margin and profit potential from the same initial investment.”

According to Safra, the BeeHome has demonstrated a remarkable 70% reduction in bee colony loss, resulting in healthier and more productive hives. Currently, thousands of BeeHomes are operational in the field, demonstrating strong revenue, device, and customer growth, with reported gross margins of 40%.

Beyond Corner Ventures, Beewise’s investors include Insight Partners, Fortissimo, Lool Ventures, and APG. To date, the company has secured a total of $170 million in funding, signaling strong confidence in its innovative approach to tackling the bee population crisis and securing the future of food production.