Innovation May Protect Pollinators, Helping Food Supply

By Michelle Fiscus, Senior VP & Chief Communications Officer

Honeybees play a critical role in agriculture, but a tiny parasite called the Varroa mite continues to threaten bee colonies around the world.

At East Carolina University, Dr. Lok Pokhrel is developing Varr-Gate, an innovative technology designed to deliver targeted mite treatment as bees naturally enter and leave the hive. Supported by NCInnovation, the project aims to improve honeybee health while advancing a technology with real commercial potential.

Watch the video above to learn how university research, entrepreneurship and commercialization are coming together to address one of agriculture's biggest challenges—and why innovations like this matter for North Carolina's economy.