Precision Pollination

Pollen Patrollers Ltd

Precision Pollination

AI-powered smart hives and precision pollination boosting crop yields, bee health, and climate resilience for farmers

Nairobi County, Kenya

KEN

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

According to the United Nations, about 40% of all bee colonies collapse yearly. In Africa, 60% collapse every year and is no different In Kenya. The collapse of bee colonies across the globe, also known as colony collapse disorder (CCD), is a major environmental issue with significant implications for ecosystems, agriculture, and food security. Bees are essential pollinators, responsible for pollinating a significant portion of the world's crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Without bees, many of these crops would not be able to produce fruit or seeds, leading to significant declines in food production and potential food shortages. Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity. One of the major reasons why this is happening is because beekeepers lack the proper technology to keep their bees healthy, and in return, small-scale farmers lack bees to pollinate crops and this leads to food insecurity.

Pollen Patrollers is a women-led startup revolutionizing beekeeping and pollination in Africa through smart, affordable technology. Our solution combines IoT-enabled smart hives with precision pollination services to support both beekeepers and smallholder farmers. Each hive contains sensors that track temperature, humidity, sound, and bee activity, sending real-time data to a cloud platform. Using AI and machine learning, this data is analyzed to provide actionable insights that help beekeepers prevent hive losses, monitor health, and improve productivity. To boost crop yields, we coordinate with beekeepers and farmers to deploy bees during key pollination periods. AI algorithms analyze farm data such as bloom times, crop types, and weather patterns to generate tailored pollination schedules. Satellite mapping identifies optimal hive placement for maximum impact. Our AI-powered USSD chatbot and hotline provide inclusive farmer training, especially in remote areas without internet access. Farmers receive localized, timely advice on soil, pests, and climate-smart practices in their preferred language. Pollen Patrollers is the first in Sub-Saharan Africa to offer this integrated, data-driven solution. It enhances food security, promotes biodiversity, and builds climate resilience ensuring both people and pollinators thrive. Here is the link to our product demo https://youtu.be/FjBaEJakQMs

Our target population consists of small-scale beekeepers and farmers in underserved rural areas who lack access to modern tools, training, and reliable pollination services. These communities often face low crop yields, poor hive health, and income instability due to outdated practices and environmental stressors. Beekeepers benefit from our smart hive technology, which uses IoT sensors and AI to monitor hive conditions in real-time reducing losses and boosting honey production by 33%. For small-scale farmers, our precision pollination service maps and monitors fields to deliver bees at the optimal time and location, resulting in up to 50% higher yields. By combining pollinator logistics with data-driven insights and local training, our solution addresses both pollinator decline and food insecurity while creating sustainable income opportunities for our users.