How are we giving back?
We have found a beautiful way to donate for every bottle sold back to our little friends - through the Honeybee & Fungi Research Fund. A well-known Mycologist, Paul Stamets, in conjunction with WSU have been conducting a breakthrough study using a chemical free method to eradicate the Varroa mite with two types of fungi. All of the current varroa treatments used today have extremely powerful chemicals that can be harmful to the bees and not always effective. Being advocates for all-natural solutions this is something we feel truly passionate about.
How will fungi help save the bees?
Varroa mites feed on bees, weakening their immune system which makes them more susceptible to other diseases. Varroa plays the largest role in Colony Collapse Disorder globally causing beekeepers to lose 30-50% of their hives annually (a terrifying statistic). This last season New Zealand alone lost 109,800 hives to varroa alone, with our worst season yet for the mite.
The two types of fungi work in completely different ways. The polypore mycelium is mixed with bee feed working internally by boosting the immune system of the bees making them less susceptible to the mite. Metarhizium is more of a mold than a mushroom and works by living in the hive and destroying the mite from the inside out. Metarhizium would usually be unable to survive in temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius, however, WSU have managed to create a strain that is able to withstand the high temperatures - an amazing accomplishment.
How important are bees to our planet?
Bees are absolutely crucial to the survival of not only humans but most forms of life on our planet. They pollinate 70 of around 100 crop species that feed 90% of the world. We may lose all the plants that bees pollinate, all of the animals that eat those plants and so on up the food chain. Which means a world without bees could struggle to sustain the global human population of 7 billion.
COMB x Mother Made
Recently we have teamed up with our friends at Mother Made (a popular New Zealand mushroom health supplement company) for a giveaway to bring awareness to this groundbreaking study. Mother Made know all about the healing powers of mushrooms and in this case - saving the bees is a big one! Our mutual passion for all-natural health solutions stretches far beyond our products and we appreciate the support they have shown us by getting behind this great cause.
If you wish to check out the research yourself or wish to donate, visit; https://foundation.wsu.edu/give/ and search Honeybee & Fungi (Mushroom) Research Fund.