Balanced bee nutrition with superior efficiency

Turn every gram of feed into more healthy bees

Consumption is only half the story – feed efficiency matters. Research shows APIX Pollen’s superior nutritional composition means bees convert feed into biomass far more efficiently, maximizing brood production.

Introducing Honey Bee Feed Conversion Ratio

A critical metric in livestock management

Tightly controlled tent studies

Tent studies where colonies have no access to external natural forage.

The importance of Feed Conversion Efficiency &
Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

More bees for your buck: understanding feed efficiency

Feed Conversion Efficiency determines how effective animals can absorb and metabolize the nutrients from the diets they eat. It directly effects honey bee health and profitability.

Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) measures how many pounds of feed are required to make one pound of livestock.

A lower FCR is better:

Maximizes nutrition: more bees for your buck
Reduces waste: every gram of feed contributes to colony growth & survival
Less digestive stress on your bees

The danger of feeds with low efficiency

a feed with a poor Feed Conversion Efficiency (a high FCR)....

Introduces nutrient imbalances

Poor survival, growth, immunity, productivity, intelligence ...

Drives over-consumption

Bees eat more to compensate for lack of nutrition.

Causes metabolic stress

Metabolizing excess feed stresses the digestive system, increases oxidative & heat stress.

Causes indigestion & poor nutrient uptake

Gut irritation, diarrhea, leaky gut, disease spread,...

Wastes money

Nutrients are not efficiently used by the colony and bees are stressed...

The tent trials for honey bee feed conversion efficiency

FCR: Pounds of feed required to make one pound livestock

Tent studies demonstrate the feed conversion efficiency of APIX Pollen can exceed natural pollen and is in line with other professionally managed livestock species.

N = 8 colonies per treatment group
Colonies kept in research tents are fed APIX Pollen, sugar syrup, water – no access to natural pollen.
Measure accurately over the full season (84 – 120 days, depending of location):
- Amount of feed consumed
- Number of capped brood cells produced

What this means for you as a beekeeper

Results show that, as a pollen replacing feed, APIX Pollen’s feed conversion efficiency is:

Purer than mixed natural pollen

Our feed conversion efficiency is better than that of mixed natural pollen because APIX Pollen is formulated to avoid the anti-nutrients and contaminants often found in nature.

A benchmark in animal nutrition

The feed efficiency of APIX Pollen is in line with the high-performance standards of other modern livestock industries, such as aquaculture (shrimp and fish) and poultry farming.

A proven 3x performance advantage

Compared to a leading commercial pollen substitute in scientific trials, APIX Pollen proved to be 3x more efficient, turning feed into significantly more brood.

APIX Pollen optimizes bee nourishment, not only consumption

How can we help you?

Frequently asked questions about APIX Pollen

How can I order APIX Pollen?

APIX Pollen will be available in 2026, but we are now taking requests from beekeepers.

Provide your information on our priority list to be among the first to secure APIX Pollen for your bees and our team will reach out to you to confirm your request.

When can I use APIX Pollen?

Whenever your colonies require additional pollen-like nutrition, for example:

In the fall period, when little is blooming and colonies need to prepare for overwintering, and early spring for colonies coming out of winter.
During summer dearths, when the temperature is too high and flowers are shriveled or no longer blooming.
In queen rearing operations, where nurse bees need all the nutrition they can get to raise new high-quality queens.
When pollinating open-field crops that provide insufficient nutritional value due to large monocultures or non-nutritious pollen.
When pollinating crops inside greenhouses or pollination tunnels, where foraging is limited.
When colonies cannot forage because of long periods of cold, rain, or presence of Asian hornets / yellow-legged hornets preying on foragers.

How much should I feed?

A single dose of (a patty) feeds brood producing colonies of 8 frames of bees for 10-14 days with little natural pollen. Scale up for larger colonies (e.g., 2 patties for 16 frames) or down depending on natural pollen availability & colony brood levels.

We recommend ensuring the colony always has sufficient pollen-like nutrition (natural pollen or APIX Pollen) and never run out: gaps cause brood cannibalization.

Better to provide slightly too much than too little. If bees consume everything, provide more. Leftover feed indicates sufficient natural pollen or colony problems requiring inspection.

Should I add anything to APIX Pollen?

Do not mix or add ingredients. Our formulation is precisely balanced for honeybee needs while avoiding contamination. We handle production from our certified specialized facility so you don’t have to.

Separately feed high-quality sugar syrup for nectar flows as per best-beekeeping practices.

Can I eat APIX Pollen?

No. It is a high-performance feed formulated for honey bees and is not for human consumption. Keep away from other pets or animals.

Secure your supply of APIX POLLEN

Join our priority list to be among the first to secure APIX Pollen for your bees. Be the first to get contacted for exclusive updates, access to launch data, and ensure your place at the front of the line for the next revolution in bee nutrition.