Hoverflies as a new class of managed pollinators for better quantitative and qualitative yields of vegetable, fruit and seed crops

Project Information

HoverPollination

Grant agreement ID: 190119724

DOI

10.3030/190119724

Project closed

EC signature date 17 July 2023

Start date 1 June 2023

End date 31 May 2025

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 1 796 909,50

EU contribution

€ 1 257 836,65

Coordinated by

POLYFLY SL
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - HoverPollination (Hoverflies as a new class of managed pollinators for better quantitative and qualitative yields of vegetable, fruit and seed crops)

Reporting period: 2024-06-01 to 2025-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The global agricultural landscape faces a critical challenge: a growing threat to crop pollination due to the decline in bee populations and climate change. Furthermore, modern crop management techniques such as protected cropping (i.e. cultivation under greenhouses, tunnels, or nets) restricts the access of wild pollinators, which means managed pollinators must be used. These challenges, combined with the fact that some crops are not well-suited for existing managed pollinators like honey bees and bumblebees, mean there is a real and urgent need for alternative pollination solutions.
This is where the HoverPollination project offers a groundbreaking solution. We are introducing two novel, natural, and highly efficient pollinators to the agricultural market: GOLDFLY® (Eristalinus aeneus) and QUEENFLY® (Eristalis tenax). These syrphid flies, commonly known as hoverflies or flower flies, represent a new class of managed pollinators specifically adapted to a wide range of cropping systems and environmental conditions. Indeed, GOLDFLY® is well adapted to hot and sunny climates, whereas QUEENFLY® thrives in cooler, cloudier conditions characteristic of continental and oceanic climates. Both species are common, widespread, and exhibit a strong floral foraging behavior as they continuously visit flowers to feed on pollen and nectar. While the efficacy of these eristaline hoverflies as pollinators is well-known, they have never been commercially available as a managed pollination solution until now. POLYFLY’s HoverPollination project is not just an incremental improvement, it is a transformative innovation that provides a new path toward more sustainable and resilient pollination practices in agriculture.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

This HoverPollination project has been instrumental in transitioning POLYFLY’s solution from research to industrial readiness. The funding allowed us to execute an R&D plan across three key technical work packages, directly addressing the critical steps required for large-scale commercialization.
WP3 ‘Hoverfly Mass Rearing and Industrialization’ focused on scaling up our hoverfly rearing operations to an industrial level. We successfully optimized several key stages of the mass-rearing process, including: 1) biological and technical improvements in colony breeding and egg production and 2) mechanization of pupae sorting and packing. A significant achievement was the establishment of robust quality control procedures and good manufacturing practices (GMP) ensuring our production meets high-quality standards. The result is an ISO 9001:2015 certification and a mechanized production process with automated production lines.
WP4 ‘Product Implementation and Demonstration Trials’ was dedicated to developing and validating commercial pollination protocols. We conducted extensive research to optimize the implementation of our hoverflies in the field, evaluating: 1) different release systems (e.g. packaging, accessories) and 2) optimal release protocols (e.g. density, frequency). This allowed us to produce ready-to-use hoverfly-based pollination protocols. In the final year of the project, we successfully conducted demonstration trials in key crops within our target markets, showcasing the efficacy and viability of our solution under real-world commercial conditions.
And with WP5 ‘Open Field Studies and Potential Applications’ we started validating the use of our hoverflies for pollination in open-field crops of economic importance. The research confirmed their effectiveness and expanded our market potential beyond controlled environments. A critical part of this work was a preliminary assessment of the potential environmental impact of releasing our hoverflies in open fields, which was determined to be negligible. This finding is crucial for regulatory approval and market acceptance.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

This HoverPollination project has culminated in the market introduction of a completely new class of managed pollinators: hoverflies. POLYFLY’s innovative solution features two distinct species, Eristalinus aeneus (aka GOLDFLY®) and Eristalis tenax (aka QUEENFLY®), offering a powerful, natural answer to the global decline of pollinators and the urgent need for new solutions, as highlighted by the EU Pollinators Initiative.
Flies are the second-most important order of insect pollinators after bees, and within this group, hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are recognized as some of the most effective wild pollinators. They can even surpass bees in their efficiency across a variety of plant species and environments. This innovation is central to POLYFLY's business strategy, which is focused on the research, production, and commercialization of alternative pollinators. The proven effectiveness of our hoverflies has already attracted significant interest from key stakeholders across the agricultural value chain, including seed companies, fruit and vegetable producers, growers, distributors, and research institutions.
Thanks to this EIC Accelerator project, POLYFLY has successfully scaled and industrialized its production capabilities. This has enabled us to bring our hoverfly pollinators to market, filling a critical gap in the array of natural pollination products available to growers. Our offering is further strengthened by the fact that we provide two distinct species, each adapted to different crops and climatic conditions. This flexibility broadens the scope of our solutions and allows us to better meet the specific needs of our customers.