Hive mind: Tunisia beekeepers abuzz over early warning system

Chebbi installs a locally-made SmartBee device that remotely monitors internal factors in real time and accesses key performance indicators inside his hives, in the northern Tunisian area of Testour, in the Beja province. — AFP

TESTOUR, Tunisia: Elias Chebbi inspected a beehive in a field in Tunisia, minutes after a buzz on his phone warned him of a potential problem.

The 39-year-old beekeeper opened a flap in the hive to reveal a low-cost, locally made sensor dedicated to measuring key environmental variables. An app on his phone then warns him if action needs to be taken.