Bees are an essential part of human existence, and no bees means no food. Bees are critical pollinators and keystone species to environments to which they are endemic, and their importance in human agriculture cannot be overstated. The survival of bees and human survival have been intertwined for centuries.
If bees disappeared from the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.
usually attributed to Albert Einstein
To date, the only way to produce honey is through commercial beekeeping. Besides being unethical, the latest reports show that it is inefficient, expensive and unsustainable because of the negative impact of honey bees on wild and native bees. As domesticated animals, honey bees are pushing back on even more important pollinators such as bumblebees, green metallic bees, and other endemic bee species.
While the ethical and environmental rationale behind seeking alternatives to industrial-scale egg and dairy production is perhaps easier to understand, there are also compelling arguments for seeking alternatives to commercial-scale honey production.
Darko Mandich, CEO, MeliBio
MeliBio is looking to deliver a future that is better for the future and for the bees. MeliBio is gearing up to provide honey as a superior sweetener to the masses without the negative issues associated with its traditional production.
Producing honey without bees would restore balance in the ecosystem. The pressure on honey bees would be reduced, and native and wild bee species would thrive. Additionally, pollinators’ biodiversity would be significantly improved, and that would mean better chances of having plenty of diverse food on our tables.
One of the most important things with honey is that actually, it comes from plants. So, in a way, we can say that it is kind of plant-based. And we are actually working on some plant-based honey prototypes. But down the road, what we are looking for is just making honey without the bees, regardless of the approach.
Darko Mandich, CEO at MeliBio, Inc.
MeliBio is currently perfecting product development, focused on finding the best methods for scaling up production. It is well on-track for commercialisation next year, starting with U.S.-based companies via a B2B model. It is already engaged in conversations with potential customers.
About Honey
The global honey market is estimated to be a 9.79 billion dollar industry, and it is predicted to grow to over 14 billion by the year 2025. It is used as an ingredient in a variety of food, body wash, makeup, chapstick, lotion, soap, and more. Those who stand behind the use of honey, point to its antioxidant, antihistamine, and natural immune-boosting properties and the fact that there are ways to extract it and not harm bees, although most industrial honey is not harvested in this careful manner.
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