The PollinTech start-up is developing a strategy to pollinate the coffee bean flower through scent. The secret lies in the bee. Like dogs, these flying insects can be trained to sniff things out, to the point where they can accurately recognise the fragrance of agricultural crops of high economic interest, such as coffee, pollinating them more effectively. The most surprising thing is the fact that bees have the ability to develop an olfactory memory, making it possible for them to associate the environment where they collect pollen and flower nectar with their sense of smell.
Researcher João Marcelo Robazzi, an expert in bee training, explains that these insects can be trained in the laboratory so that «they can more easily recognise target-agricultural-crops». To this end, the start-up’s researchers have developed a project based on synthetic biomolecules, originating from mixtures of artificial odours, which are encoded by the pollinating insects as the natural aroma of coffee.
PollinTech’s goal is to increase not only the productivity, but also the quality of coffee beans and the truth is that, so far, the group has achieved an increase of more than 18% in the production of this agricultural crop.
Researcher João Marcelo Robazzi, an expert in bee training, explains that these insects can be trained in the laboratory so that «they can more easily recognise target-agricultural-crops». To this end, the start-up’s researchers have developed a project based on synthetic biomolecules, originating from mixtures of artificial odours, which are encoded by the pollinating insects as the natural aroma of coffee.
PollinTech’s goal is to increase not only the productivity, but also the quality of coffee beans and the truth is that, so far, the group has achieved an increase of more than 18% in the production of this agricultural crop.
