Bees are disappearing. Bees, which are responsible for pollinating 70% of the earth's plants, have seen their populations dramatically decline due to climate change, infectious diseases, and other factors. If bees disappear, the beekeeping industry, as well as humanity's food security, will be threatened.
The United Nations (UN) has designated May 20th as "World Bee Day" each year to raise awareness about the importance of bee protection and urges countries to recognize the crisis and take measures. Scientists have developed advanced bio-weapons to protect bees, specifically gene therapies. Domestic corporations have developed gene therapies to prevent bee AIDS, while U.S. corporations have created vaccines to combat bee infectious diseases.
◇RNA therapy to prevent bee AIDS
Domestic bio corporation Genolution has announced that it is set to release a gene therapy to prevent the virus that is a primary cause of mass bee deaths, known as the sac brood virus. The sac brood virus is a viral disease known as "bee AIDS" that infects larvae. In 2010, this virus spread in the country, resulting in the loss of 90% of native bees.
Genolution has developed the world's first gene therapy for bee AIDS called "HoneyGuard-R Liquid" using the phenomenon of RNA interference (RNAi). This therapy has been co-developed with the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency and received approval from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs last June, with sales expected to begin domestically as early as July.
RNA copies the genetic information of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to produce proteins. However, some fragments of RNA do not produce proteins but instead bind with other RNAs. This blocks the function of the genes that the RNA has copied. The 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to two scientists who revealed the RNA interference phenomenon, where short RNAs adjust gene functions.
A representative from Genolution noted, "In the first half of the year, government procurement registration and production procedures will be in progress, and sales will begin under government leadership from July to August." They added, "Genolution will produce the raw materials, while the finished goods will be handled by Eagle Vet, a specialized animal medicine company."
◇Vaccine to prevent bee infectious diseases is also emerging
Genolution is also developing gene therapies for Varroa mites and Nosema disease, which are the three major bee diseases supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs along with the sac brood virus. Varroa mites are parasites that rapidly reduce bee populations, while Nosema disease is an infectious disease that impairs the bees' flying ability.
Research to prevent bee diseases is also active overseas. A research team led by Nancy Moran at the University of Texas has announced a dual-strand RNA (dsRNA) based eradication method, using RNA interference technology to modify the gut bacterium genes of bees and block two essential genes of Nosema.
It is expensive to produce RNA for gene therapy. The research team utilized the bacteria that coexist in the guts of bees as an RNA factory, modifying the genes of gut bacteria to produce RNA interference therapies.
U.S. bio corporation Dalan Animal Health developed the world's first vaccine to prevent AFB, an infectious disease in bee larvae, in December 2022, receiving approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A vaccine to prevent the wingless virus (DWV), which is transmitted by Varroa mites, is also under development.
◇2 billion won in damages from bee decline in 8 months
According to global market research firm Fortune Business Insights, the global beekeeping market size is expected to grow from $11.75 billion (16.7 trillion won) in 2024 to $18.59 billion (26.5 trillion won) by 2032.
The decline of bees can damage not only the beekeeping market but also the entire agriculture sector. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), one-third of crops can be produced through the pollination of bees. Recently in the United States, over 10 billion bees died in mass die-offs within eight months, resulting in damage of about $140 million (195.5 billion won).
In the country, more than 18.9 billion bees died during the winter of 2023, marking an unprecedented crisis. Experts analyze that this is the result of a combination of climate anomalies, pesticides, parasites, and viral infectious diseases.
The domestic bee ecosystem is already largely dominated by Western bees rather than native bees. While Western bees are more resilient to diseases than native bees, they may be vulnerable to mutated viruses, raising the possibility of another crisis.