- Bee Vectoring Technologies (TSXV:BEE) has closed three new deals with berry farmers in two US states
- The farmers will use BVT’s bee delivery system to improve their crops in the upcoming growing season
- BVT will also commercially deploy its computer-controlled honeybee hive dispenser system for the first time
- The three new contracts are expected to strengthen the company’s expansion on the US west coast
- BVT’s share price is up 15.15 per cent and is currently trading at C$0.38 per share
Bee Vectoring Technologies (TSXV:BEE) has closed three new deals with berry farmers on the US west coast.
The newly contracted berry producers grow blueberries, raspberries and blackberries in Oregon and Washington.
As a result of the deals, the farmers will test BVT’s proprietary bee delivery system on their farms. In the impending berry growing season, they will apply the technology to portions of their crops in the hope of seeing a yield improvement.
BVT’s natural precision agriculture system uses commercially-reared bees to deliver VECTORITE with CR-7 to plants. As the bees leave their hive, they carry the product with them, and introduce it to crops that they pollinate.
VECTORITE is an organic, natural plant protection product. CR-7 is an all-natural fungicide which enhances disease management and improves crop yields.
The bee vectoring system is a natural alternative to more traditional methods for crop protection, which involve periodic spraying of chemicals.
In addition to trialling the bee vectoring, the new contracts will be the first to commercially use BVT’s computer-controlled honeybee hive dispenser system.
In western US states, only honeybees are currently used for commercial pollination. Canada and western USA do not currently permit commercial use of bumblebees.
BVT’s honeybee hive dispenser will allow the company to meet all agricultural regulations and reach a larger market.
BVT CEO, Ashish Malik, spoke with enthusiasm about the company’s expansion into the US west coast.
“We are excited to be expanding into this new region. We’ve now successfully penetrated the US Southeast blueberry market, the Pacific Northwest blueberry and raspberry markets, and the Florida strawberry market.
“We anticipate this strong commercial momentum continuing in coming seasons,” he said.
There are already indications that natural alternatives to chemical sprays are gaining in popularity.
Data from universities in Washington and Michigan both demonstrated that berry crops are developing a resistance to current fungicides. This suggests that the need for other options, like BVT’s bee vectoring technology, will increase to significant heights.
BVT’s share price is up 15.15 per cent and is currently trading at C$0.38 per share, as of 10:02am EST.
