AI Technology Aims to Safeguard Essential Pollinators

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have created a machine learning approach to identify safe chemical compounds that can deter honey bees from pesticide-treated crops. This study, funded by a grant from the California Research Alliance by BASF, addresses the critical issue of declining honey bee populations, partly due to pesticide exposure. Led by Anandasankar Ray, a Professor specializing in insect olfactory behavior, the team focused on the complexity of the honey bee's olfactory system, which has over 200 receptors for various volatile compounds, making it difficult to find effective repellent scents.