Bees contribute almost €4 million to the Irish economy each year by helping to pollinate rapeseed.
The crop is pollinated by wind, but Irish researchers have for the first time shown that the transfer of pollen by bees flower-to-flower does improve yield.
Within controlled conditions, when bees were prevented from landing on the plant, seed production was reduced by a quarter.
The findings are to appear in the Journal of Insect Conservation.
Read more on the RTE site