InteliSpark client, Combplex, Inc., wins a phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and validate precision lasers for controlling a major honey bee parasite.
Honey bees are vital for the health of our economy and environment, producing honey and other hives products and serving as crop pollinators. Yet, bee colonies are declining around the world due to the varroa mite, a highly dangerous parasite. Not only can bee colonies die from the mite itself, but the mites also carry and transmit diseases that pose a serious threat as well. This results in agricultural damages with an estimated $2 billion in losses in the United States alone.
Beekeepers have attempted to control this parasite with chemical pesticides without success. Meanwhile the varroa mites are expanding and threatening bee colonies around the world. Combplex is developing and validating a high-power laser burst to destroy the mite without harming the bees. This novel solution is a year-round, automatic and chemical-free method and has the potential to improve food and agriculture supplies around the world.
Combplex is a startup committed to creating a more resilient farming ecosystem, and Hailey Scofield, the CEO and Co-founder of the company, will lead this NSF-funded project to develop innovative technology to advance that mission.