RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Upcycling Mussel Shells Waste
Our sustainability efforts start with discarded green mussel shells collected from Chonburi Province, an area well known for its seafood-processing industry. This industry produces large amounts of seafood waste, including mussel shells. By speaking with local fishermen and seafood-processing communities, I learned that these shells often pile up, creating waste and unpleasant odors.
BeeFriend gives the shells a new purpose by transforming them into a useful ingredient. This helps reduce local waste while creating value for coastal communities.
Our Founder, Pammy, visited fishermen community surveying mussel shell waste in the Chonburi province, Thailand
Production Process
How BeeFriend Works?
BeeFriend uses Bio-Calcium Carbonate as a natural physical barrier against soft-bodied insects. It disrupts their movement and feeding, makes the treated surface less suitable for insects, and has a drying effect that dehydrates them.
Bees are less affected because their hairy bodies help prevent the fine powder from reaching sensitive areas. They also mainly visit flowers for nectar and pollen rather than spending time on treated plant surfaces. This allows BeeFriend to control unwanted insects while helping protect important pollinators.
Analyzing Bio-Calcium Carbonate (Bio-CaCO₃) particles derived from green mussel shells under a microscope
Plant was treated by BeeFriend product. After that the mealybugs has gone.
Unlike other insects, Bee's hairy bodies prevent the fine powder from penetrating sensitive areas
Field Lab
To test BeeFriend’s effectiveness and safety for pollinators in a real-life setting, I conducted a trial in my own garden, where plants affected by mealybugs near my four active beehives.
After applying BeeFriend, I monitored both the plants and the bees closely. Within a few days, the mealybugs were eliminated while the bees remained unharmed.
At the same time, I closely monitored the bees visiting the flowers. Using a counting method inspired by the University of Minnesota’s Great Sunflower Project, I recorded bee activity before and after applying BeeFriend.
The number of visiting bees remained steady and even increased slightly, suggesting that BeeFriend controlled unwanted insects without harming the honeybees.
Conducting a field experiment in Pammy's backyard garden by recording observations of plants treated with BeeFriend to study its real-world effects on insects and pollinators.
A chart shows number of bees count in each experimental flower plot
International Conference
at Pure and Applied Chemistry International Conference 2026 (PACCON2026), Thailand
Presentation at Pure and Applied Chemistry International Conference 2026 (PACCON2026)
BeeFriend: Evaluating the Pollinator-Safe Efficacy of a Calcium Carbonate–Based Insecticide Derived from Upcycled Mussel Shell Waste
Sirinda Chalermthiralert, Chutiparn Lertvachirapaiboon, & Duangthip Kantha (2026). Pure and Applied Chemistry International Conference (PACCON 2026).
This study turned green mussel shell waste into BeeFriend, a calcium carbonate (CaCO3) insecticide. The shells were washed, treated with potassium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide, baked at 300 °C, and ground into aragonite CaCO3 powder with an average particle size of 4.2 µm. In a cantaloupe field trial with three doses (250, 500 and 750 g per 20 L of water) and an untreated control, treated plants showed better flower growth, fewer insects, and up to 20% higher fruit yield.
Bee activity did not differ significantly between treatments, including for stingless bees and honey bees.
The results suggest that a waste-derived mineral can protect crops and keep pollinators active, giving growers a pollinator-safe alternative to chemical insecticides.
This research was conducted under the guidance of Chutiparn Lertvachirapaiboon, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), and Duangthip Kantha, Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, with laboratory support from the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University.
