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'Scent-training' honeybees could boost sunflower production
The scent training drove the bees to visit sunflowers more often and return more pollen to the hive.
Scientists teach bees to pollinate flowers using synthetic odour.

A new study has revealed that 'scent-training' honeybees could make them more efficient pollinators.

The research, published in the journal Current Biology, found that honeybees given food that smelt like sunflowers led to a significant boost in the production of sunflower crops.

Walter Farina of Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina, said: "We show that it's possible to condition honeybees to a rewarded odour inside the colony, and this experience modifies the bees' odour-guided behaviours later.

"The most surprising and relevant result is that the foraging preferences for the target crop are so prolonged and intensive that it promoted significant increases in the crop yields."

The study built on previous research that found that honeybees could establish stable, long-term memory related to food scents inside the nest. The scientists were also aware that in-hive memories could influence the bees' decisions about which plants to visit later.

To raise bees with a memory to support later sunflower foraging, the team first developed a synthetic odour that the bees associated with the natural floral scent of sunflowers. They then applied this odour to food and gave it to the hives.

Researchers found that early experiences and memories of the scent of sunflower influenced the bees' later foraging preferences, as indicated by their waggle dances.

The scent training drove the bees to visit sunflowers more often and return more pollen to the hive. They add that this boost in sunflower visits also increased the sunflowers' seed production from 29 to 57 per cent.

Farina continued: "Through this procedure, it is possible to bias honeybee foraging activity and increase yields significantly. In other words, pollination services might be improved in pollinator-dependent crops by using simple mimic odours as part of a precision pollination strategy."

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."