Originally aired on September 13, 2023

The episode features an interview with Annette Kleiser, CEO of Dalan Animal Health, who has developed a vaccine for honeybees. The vaccine is administered to the queen bee through a sugar paste and is then passed on to her offspring, providing protection against diseases. The honeybee population plays a crucial role in pollination and food security, so the development of this vaccine is seen as a significant breakthrough. The CEO discusses the challenges of starting a new business in a niche market, gaining regulatory approval, and addressing the global need for bee health. The interview also touches on the importance of insects in ecosystems, the impact of diseases on bee colonies, and the potential for expanding this vaccination approach to other insect species.

What is the delivery mechanism for the vaccine?

• The vaccine is mixed with a sugar paste called clean candy.
• Beekeepers feed the vaccine-laced sugar paste to the queen bee, who then passes it on to her offspring.
• The liquid vaccine is taken up by the queen and passed onto her ovaries and developing eggs.

Why are honeybees important for food security?

• One-third of the world’s food depends on pollinators.
• Honeybees are the primary pollinators used in agriculture to boost crop yields.
• Losing honeybees would have a significant impact on nutrient-rich foods, biodiversity, and climate concerns.

How did the CEO get involved in developing a honeybee vaccine?

• The CEO met a researcher at the University of Helsinki who had the idea for a honeybee vaccine.
• Recognizing the importance of bees and the lack of solutions to address their decline, the CEO decided to form a company and make the vaccine a reality.
• The development of the vaccine began four and a half years ago.

What are the challenges in the beekeeping industry?

• Bee colonies face a multitude of stressors, including diseases, climate change, pesticides, and transportation.
• The lack of modern tools for disease protection puts bee colonies at risk.
• The goal of the vaccine is to make bees healthier and better equipped to handle these stressors.

How do clinical trials for the vaccine work?

• Clinical trials involve exposing the larvae to the disease to test if they become sick.
• High doses of the pathogen are used to observe the survival rates of vaccinated larvae.
• The initial responses from thousands of beekeepers who tried the vaccine have been positive, with no reported cases of disease.

What are the challenges in scaling the honeybee vaccine business?

• The company is facing a high demand for the vaccine but has limited resources to respond to inquiries and manufacturing requests.
• The focus is on targeting specific markets and establishing partnerships in different countries.
• Increasing awareness and investment in innovative solutions for bee health is essential.