Scientists studied Spirugrass®, a leftover product from processing a type of algae called Limnospira platensis. They wanted to understand what nutrients it contains and whether it could help honeybees stay healthy. The researchers found that Spirugrass® is packed with protein and iron, and when they fed it to honeybees in the lab, the bees stayed healthy with no negative effects. This suggests that Spirugrass® could become a natural food supplement for bees, which is important because honeybees need good nutrition to thrive and pollinate our crops.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a leftover product from algae processing (called Spirugrass®) could be used as a healthy food supplement for honeybees, and what nutrients it contains.
  • Who participated: Nine groups of 30 newly emerged honeybees each (270 bees total) were given Spirugrass® in a controlled laboratory setting to test its safety and effects.
  • Key finding: Spirugrass® contains high levels of protein and iron, and honeybees fed this supplement showed no signs of illness or harm, suggesting it’s safe and potentially beneficial for bee health.
  • What it means for you: If you keep bees or care about bee health, this research suggests a natural, sustainable way to support honeybee nutrition. However, this is early-stage research, and more testing is needed before widespread use.

The Research Details

Researchers started with Spirugrass®, which is a byproduct left over after extracting a useful blue pigment (phycocyanin) from algae. They used several laboratory techniques to analyze what proteins and iron it contained. First, they used special machines to separate and identify the different proteins in the product. They also measured how much iron was present and what form it was in. Then, they tested whether a high-pressure treatment (used to preserve food) would damage the proteins. Finally, they conducted a bee feeding trial where they gave Spirugrass® to nine separate groups of 30 newly emerged honeybees and watched them for any signs of problems.

The researchers chose this approach because they wanted to understand both the nutritional quality of the product and whether it would actually be safe and beneficial for bees to eat. By testing it on bees in a controlled lab setting first, they could observe any potential problems before recommending it for real beehives.

This research matters because it takes a waste product from algae processing and shows it might have value as animal feed. This is important for sustainability—instead of throwing away the leftover material, it could be used to help honeybees. Since honeybees are crucial for pollinating crops that feed us, anything that improves their health is worth studying. The research also shows that high-pressure processing doesn’t ruin the nutritional value, which is important for food safety.

This study has some strengths: it used multiple scientific techniques to thoroughly analyze the product, and it tested the product on actual bees to see real-world effects. However, the bee trial was done in a laboratory with small groups, not in real beehives in nature. The sample size for bees (270 total) is reasonable for a preliminary study. The researchers were transparent about what they found, including that the high-pressure treatment did cause some protein changes. One limitation is that this is early research, so we don’t yet know long-term effects or how well it would work in actual beekeeping situations.

What the Results Show

The analysis showed that Spirugrass® contains about 80% of all the proteins found in the original algae, which is a very high percentage and means most of the nutritional value is preserved. The product contains 261 micrograms of iron per gram of dry weight, which equals about 74% of the iron from the original algae. This iron is attached to large protein molecules, including the blue pigment phycocyanin, which means the body can potentially use it effectively.

When the researchers applied high-pressure treatment (a method used to preserve food and kill harmful bacteria), they noticed some changes to the protein structure. This suggests that the pressure caused some proteins to break down slightly, though the overall nutritional profile remained useful.

Most importantly, when honeybees were fed Spirugrass® in the laboratory, nothing bad happened. The bees showed no signs of illness, death, or negative effects. This is a crucial finding because it means the product appears to be safe for bees to eat, at least in the short term.

The researchers found that the iron in Spirugrass® is bound to large protein molecules rather than existing as free iron. This is actually beneficial because protein-bound iron is often easier for the body to absorb and use properly. The study also confirmed that the high-pressure treatment, while causing some protein changes, didn’t destroy the overall nutritional value of the product. The consistency of the nutrient content (the iron levels were very similar across samples) suggests that Spirugrass® could be reliably produced as a supplement with predictable nutritional value.

This research builds on existing knowledge that microalgae are nutritious for both humans and animals. Previous studies have shown that algae-based products can be good sources of protein and minerals. This study is novel because it focuses on a specific byproduct (Spirugrass®) and specifically tests it with honeybees, which hasn’t been extensively studied before. The findings align with what we know about algae nutrition but provide new information about this particular product and its potential use for bee health.

This study has several important limitations to keep in mind. First, the bee trials were done in a laboratory with small groups of bees, not in real beehives in nature where conditions are different. Second, the study only looked at short-term effects—we don’t know what happens if bees eat this supplement for months or years. Third, the sample size for bees, while reasonable for a first study, is relatively small. Fourth, the researchers didn’t compare Spirugrass® to other bee supplements to see if it’s better or worse. Finally, this is preliminary research, meaning it’s an early-stage study that needs follow-up research to confirm the findings.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, Spirugrass® appears to be a safe and potentially beneficial supplement for honeybees, but with moderate confidence since this is early-stage research. The recommendation would be to conduct larger-scale studies in real beehive conditions before widespread adoption. If you’re a beekeeper interested in trying this, consult with a bee health expert first. For the general public, this research suggests that algae byproducts could be valuable for animal nutrition, which is good news for sustainability.

Beekeepers and bee researchers should pay attention to this research as it offers a potential new tool for supporting bee health. Agricultural scientists and sustainability experts should care because it shows how to use waste products productively. People concerned about honeybee decline and pollination should find this encouraging. However, this research is too preliminary for the average person to take action on right now—it’s more of a ‘watch this space’ finding.

In this laboratory study, the bees showed no negative effects immediately after being fed Spirugrass®. However, we don’t know how long it takes to see positive health benefits or how long-term use would affect bees. Realistic expectations would be that if this product is eventually used in beekeeping, any benefits would likely take weeks to months to become noticeable, similar to other nutritional supplements.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you keep bees and eventually use Spirugrass® as a supplement, track bee colony strength weekly by counting frames of brood (baby bees), measuring food stores, and noting any signs of disease. Record these observations in a simple spreadsheet or app to see if hive health improves over 2-3 months.
  • For beekeepers: Start by consulting with a local bee expert or extension office about whether to try Spirugrass® supplementation. If you decide to try it, introduce it gradually to one test hive while keeping detailed records. For general users interested in sustainability: Support research into algae-based products and consider products made from algae byproducts when available.
  • Long-term tracking would involve monitoring bee colony health indicators monthly: brood patterns, adult bee population, food consumption, disease signs, and honey production. Compare colonies receiving Spirugrass® to control colonies without it over at least one full season (3-4 months) to see if there are meaningful differences.

This research is preliminary and has not yet been tested in real-world beekeeping conditions. Do not use Spirugrass® as a bee supplement without consulting with a veterinarian, bee scientist, or local beekeeping expert. This study was conducted in a laboratory with small groups of bees and may not reflect results in actual beehives. Long-term safety and effectiveness have not been established. Always follow local regulations regarding bee supplementation and consult with professionals before making changes to bee nutrition or care.