Finnish Beekeepers Encouraged to Harvest Pollen and Bee Larvae as Foodstuffs

Grubs, pollen to create new buzz in beekeeping business

BUY Concentrated Propolis in Veggie Capsules  

UUTISET

On the heels of crunchy insect bread made from crickets, beekeepers in Finland are now looking to sweeten their margins with grubs and pollen.

Finnish apiarists are inceasingly interested in producing insect-related foodstuffs in addition to honey, according to the Finnish Beekeepers' Association.

"It's a way for beekeepers to get some extra income on top of their honey production," project chief Anneli Salonen from the association told Yle.

Bee-entrepreneurs looking to sweeten their business, are exploring adding protein-rich grubs of drone bees and pollen to their product ranges. Pollen and grub collection does not disturb the life of a beehive, as the worker bees that run much of the hive are undisturbed in the process.

But everyone isn't jumping at a chance to introduce their taste buds to bee larvae...

Introducing 'bee glue'

One of the lesser-known by-products of beekeeping is propolis, a resinous wax known as 'bee glue' that is produced when bees collect resins from trees and other plants.

Propolis has numerous uses both inside a hive as well as on a plate.

"A propolis shell protects the hive and its entry points," Salonen said. "It is also a disinfectant and antibiotic, so it defends the hive against bacteria and microbes. Once stung, bees also coat intruders such as mice with propolis, embalming them in the hive."

Consumers can meanwhile look forward to propolis-based nutritional supplements touted for their anti-inflammatory properties, according to Salonen.