Seed Treatments

The New England life sciences industry has produced an explosion of therapies for small patient populations with rare diseases. Last year, fully half of newly approved drugs were for these smaller populations.

While emerging biotech therapies provide hope for small clusters of human patients with rare diseases, when deployed to the agricultural sector, biotech advances the promise nourishment for tens of millions who may otherwise face food shortages that are increasingly exacerbated by drought and pestilence. When it comes to agriculture, biotech not only provides hope that the many might avoid food scarcity but also represents a promising opportunity for the New England economy.

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Vermont honey bee count reaches historic high in 2023

The number of honey bee colonies in Vermont reached an all-time high in 2023, according to the most recent data from the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

The agency regulates the honey bee industry, and all beekeepers, including commercial and backyard apiaries, must register with the state.

There were 17,145 colonies registered in 2023, which was a 43% increase since 2016, and represents the largest number of colonies ever registered with the state.

Honeybees for hire: Rent-a-bee program helps Massachusetts farmers pollinate crops

A honeybee hive is traveling to Massachusetts farms to help pollinate local crops.

Farms, such as Pleasant Valley Gardens in Methuen, are in need of pollinators as bee colonies dwindle.

“They have male and female flowers, so when the bees are going to get nectar, they pick up some of that pollen, and as they go to the next flower, they drop that pollen and that's pollination,” farmer Heather Bonanno-Baker said.