Just as your doctor might prescribe vitamins and nutrients for your health, researchers at Colorado State are hoping one day to do the same for honeybees.

Failing honeybee health and colony collapse disease are well documented. Scientists at Colorado State University led by Asst. Professor Arathi Seshadri (AR a thee Say Sha Dree) will collect and study bee pollen to see which nutrients are present and which might be missing.

“To actually say okay here is what your colony is lacking, so if you are in this area it looks like you are going to be lacking in some of these nutrients or if you are supplementing with some of these artificial pollens you’re still not able to meet all the needs.”

Seshadri and her team of CSU researchers have received a $488,000 Pollinator Health Fund grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.

Colorado Professional Beekeeping Association is also donating money and its beekeepers will be cooperating in the initial 3 year study.