supplemental-feeding
Supplemental feeding refers to the practice of providing additional nutrients, pollen, or food sources to support plant health, pollination, or the organisms that interact with plants beyond what is naturally available in their environment. This technique is important in plant science because it helps researchers understand and manage nutrient deficiencies, boost crop yields, and support pollinator populations that are critical for fruit and seed production. By studying supplemental feeding, scientists can develop strategies to improve orchard productivity and ensure reliable pollination services in agricultural systems.
open_in_new WikipediaEurope PMC · 2026-07-08
A large commercial study found that fall feeding programs for honey bee colonies — whether natural pollen or manufactured supplements — didn't consistently outperform leaving colonies unfed. Two commercially available supplements matched natural pollen in colony size and profitability, but unfed colonies did just as well in a second trial, suggesting fall feeding may often be unnecessary.
Unfed colonies performed as well as pollen-fed and supplement-fed colonies in trial 2, suggesting fall feeding is not always necessary.
Two commercial supplements, Global 4% and AP23, consistently matched natural pollen in colony size and likelihood of grading adequately for almond pollination.
Study evaluated approximately 700 colonies across 2 years and 2 North Dakota apiaries, measuring colony size at 4 time points from pre-feed through post-almond pollination.
