Kibbutz markets giant bumblebees

JERUSALEM, Sept. 23 (JTA) – When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Asia last month to promote trade, he probably did not realize that one of the keys might lie in genetically mutated bumblebees. But it appears to be true. Kibbutz Yad Mordechai has already signed what it estimated to be a $1 million deal to export the enormous bumblebees – which are 15 times normal size – to South Korea and Japan. Surprisingly, the super bee, produced at the kibbutz, which is south of Ashkelon, will not be used for honey – instead, it will be used for pollinating crops.