Scientists in Colombia say they have developed a new food substance that protects bees from dangerous chemicals used in farming.

哥伦比亚的科学家表示，他们已经开发出一种新的食物物质，可以保护蜜蜂免受农业中使用的危险化学品的侵害。

They claim it will protect the insects' brains from neurological damage caused by chemicals called pesticides.

他们声称这将保护昆虫的大脑免受称为杀虫剂的化学物质造成的神经损伤。

As pollinators, bees are extremely important in the preservation of natural ecosystems and food production.

作为传粉者，蜜蜂在保护自然生态系统和粮食生产方面极其重要。

The plant-based food substance enables bees to deal with neurotoxins commonly used in agriculture.

这种植物性食物物质使蜜蜂能够处理农业中常用的神经毒素。

It protects their motor system and memory harmed by the chemicals.

它保护了蜜蜂受化学物质伤害的运动系统和记忆。

Researchers at Colombia's Rosario University in Bogota developed the substance.

哥伦比亚波哥大罗萨里奥大学的研究人员开发了这种物质。

They partnered with scientists from the Colombian Universidad Javeriana and the University of Arizona in the United States.

他们与哥伦比亚哈维里亚纳大学和美国亚利桑那大学的科学家合作。

"This is a nutritional solution to the problem bees face when exposed to pesticides," said Andre Riveros, a professor at Rosario University.

罗萨里奥大学教授安德烈·里韦罗斯说：“这是一种营养解决方案，可以解决蜜蜂在接触杀虫剂时面临的问题。”

Riveros explained that the food substance causes the bees to develop protection against pesticides.

里韦罗斯解释说，这种食物物质会导致蜜蜂对杀虫剂产生保护作用。

The substance is created with flavonoids, which are known for their health benefits.

该物质由黄酮类化合物制成，黄酮类化合物以其健康益处而闻名。

Flavonoids come from plants and are a kind of secondary metabolite.

黄酮来源于植物，是一种次级代谢产物。

Secondary metabolites are substances made by plants that make them competitive in their environment.

次级代谢物是植物产生的使其在环境中具有竞争力的物质。

During the first round of testing, scientists put the bees to sleep and placed them into small laboratory tubes.

在第一轮测试中，科学家们让蜜蜂入睡，并将它们放入实验室的小管子中。

Then, they fed the bees the substance one by one.

然后，他们将这种物质一一喂给蜜蜂。

Testing has now moved to real-world situations in a bee colony at the university, said Juan Jose Ovalle.

胡安·何塞·奥瓦勒说，测试现在已经转移到大学蜂群的现实情况下。

He is a natural science student at Rosario University.

他是罗萨里奥大学自然科学专业的学生。

"We already know that there are molecules that improve the bees' health.

“我们已经知道有些分子可以改善蜜蜂的健康。

We already know that there are molecules that prevent neuronal damage caused by pesticides," Ovalle said.

我们已经知道有一些分子可以防止杀虫剂引起的神经元损伤，”奥瓦勒说。

He added it was important to continue the work to increase the effectiveness of these methods to support bees.

他补充说，继续开展工作以提高这些支持蜜蜂的方法的有效性非常重要。

I'm Anna Matteo.

安娜·马特奥为您播报。