Formation of a partnership network of service providers for the transportation of bees

This article examines the key aspects of forming a partnership network of service providers for the transportation of honey bees, taking into account the specifics of a live cargo and the narrow pollination time windows. The study aims to identify the structural elements and mechanisms of interaction among participants in the logistics chain and to substantiate the proposed partnership models as a means of minimizing biological and operational risks in the migratory practice of hive transportation. The relevance of the work is determined by the high dependence of global agriculture on bee pollinators and the significant economic losses resulting from transport failures. Using the example of February almond shipments in California and the incident involving a hive loss outbreak in Washington State, the critical vulnerabilities of current logistics schemes are demonstrated, along with the need to establish resilient delivery channels with redundant routes and unified standards. The novelty of the study lies in its interdisciplinary approach, which combines content and comparative analysis of the IATA Live Animals Regulations and CEIV standards with economic models such as LTA, revenue-sharing, and white-labeling, as well as case studies of BeeHero and GBA TFreight Inc. A multi-level network architecture is proposed, in which each role—from certified carriers to digital aggregators—has clearly defined KPIs and standardized data-exchange protocols, enabling the creation of a digital twin of each hive consignment and rapid response to deviations in biological parameters. The main conclusions indicate that integrating telemetry with predictive analytics and insurance assessment, along with the application of financial instruments, creates a resilient ecosystem capable of ensuring stable pollination amid unprecedented climatic and market volatility. This article will be beneficial to logistics and agribusiness managers, contract pollination specialists, and researchers in the fields of green and digital logistics.