Initial Research and Understanding

Initial research was just to understand the magnitude of the problem.

Bees are responsible for pollinating 80% of our fruits and vegetable crops. If the US alone had to replicate the work done by them, it would cost the country $90 million.

The bee population has decreased by between 30% and 40% since 2006. Collony collapse disorder (CCD) is believed to be the reason for the demise in the bee population. The main contributing factor are the Varroa Mite, Climate Change and Pesticides.

This is a complicated issue that needs immediate attention. For this reason a clear understanding of how we have gotten to this position and how we will solve it is needed.

Research Avenues

In order to further understand bees, I took beekeeping classes. This allowed me to talk to experts and get feedback on possible solutions. From taking these classes, I was able to speak to beekeepers with a range of experience, from first timers to veterans.

I also spoke to Prof. Kavanagh at Maynooth University who was developing a tonic to give to boost their immune system.

I conducted interviews with a range of people from those interested in beekeeping and those who were apprehensive to take up beekeeping.

Although I was conducting most of this research during the winter months, when the hives are closed up for the cold months, I was able to visit some beekeepers and their colonies to understand the process first hand.

Research Methods

Results from a General Survey

“Don’t have the free time to look after a hive, but do care about bees and realise their being under threat is a serious environmental concern.”
“I think that they take so much care and attention that I wouldn’t be able to look after them properly. The probability of getting stung is also not very encouraging.”
“I am aware of their importance to the environment and I would hate to see any species die out regardless. I do not have the time to keep them however.”

Feedback from Interviews

The main difficulties I encounter are
A) controlling swarming.
B) finding the queen.
C) lighting and keeping the smoker lit.
D) the physical effort of handling full supers of honey.
- Pat O’Brien (Hobbyist Beekeeper)

“There’s two ways of helping bees when you break it down. The obvious one is take up bee keeping and the other is to plant bee friendly trees, plants and flowers. If someone takes on a hive without knowledge, guidance, or a willingness to learn and keep up the development you will find more problems occurring (for example, if they do not stop a hive from swarming they may annoy/harm neighbours and therefore cause a negative opinion of bees which is what experts are trying to change.”
- Pauric Gallagher (Hobbyist Beekeeper)

Market Analysis

“Due to the unpredictable weather patterns in Ireland, it is very difficult to go commercial”.
- Gerry Ryan (Vice President of the Federation of the Irish Bee Keeping Society)

It would cost the US alone $90 million to replicate the pollination the bee does.

95% of beekeepers are hobbyist beekeepers.

User Investigation

Varroa Mite

Affects the bees immune system.
A study in 2007-08 of 413 hives found that 25% of the hives did not survive the Winter,
citing the mite as the cause in 85% of the cases.

Pesticides

The pesticide Neonicotinoid affects the bees navigation,
resulting on them not being able to find their ways back to the hive

Climate Change

Bees can not fly in temperatures below 10°C,
meaning the change in weather is changing their pollination patterns.

Transportation

70% of today’s beekeepers income come from transporting bees to pollinate various crops.

Call To Action

The bees disappearing is a big problem to tackle and not one that will be completely solved with this product.

The main issues that should be addressed to make the biggest difference is the issue of the Varroa mite, finding a means to help beekeepers monitor their hives better and raising awareness about the role everyone has to play in helping save them.

Organisations, such as BeeMune based in Maynooth University, will be considered as possible additions onto this product. Through the ideation and development stage, this will be achieved.

Testing

After the final prototype was built, feedback was gotten from experienced beekeepers and potential beekeepers. It was also tested in weather conditions. This is mainly an aesthetic prototype, so all of the features couldn’t be tested.

Experienced

Like the features to monitor the hive. Have had experience with their colonies dying from the Varroa mite, so a way to prevent this would be beneficial. Reluctant to change the way that beekeeping has been done for many years. Not as concerned about it looking nice in their garden

Potential

Like that it makes keeping bees more approachable. The safety features were especially appealing. Having the option to keep bees on a rooftop with neighbors sounded like a fun idea. Like that they would be able to have their own honey.