National Honey Board funds research on honey bee health

February 25, 2013

Firestone, Colo., February 25, 2013 – The National Honey Board has approved funding for nine new research projects focusing on honey bee health.  The Board’s Research Committee, with input from a panel of experts, selected the projects from 23 proposals received from researchers around the world.    The total dollar commitment for the nine projects is $165,685. In addition, the Board’s 2013 budget includes $78,600 for ongoing bee research projects from prior years.  
 
“The Board commits five percent of its assessment revenues to production research,” said George Hansen, an Oregon honey producer and Chairman of the Committee. “We’re pleased to be able to fund this research to help the industry with the challenges of maintaining the health of honey bees.”
 
The nine new projects approved for funding in 2013 include: 

  1. “How do gut microbial communities affect the quality of honey bee queens?” Dr. Heather Mattila, Wellesley College.
  2. “Evaluating the effects of pesticide exposures on Nosema ceranae virus levels and immunity in honey bees,” Dr. Brenna E. Traver, Virginia Tech.
  3.  “Effects of agro-chemical residues in combs on commercial queen rearing,” Dr. Jeffrey W. Harris, Mississippi State University.
  4.  “Stimulating propolis collection to benefit honey bee health and immunity,” Dr. Marla Spivak and Renata Borba, University of Minnesota.
  5. “Interactive effects of Nosema ssp. infection and chronic pesticide exposure on learning in foraging age honey bees, Apis mellifera,” Dr. James D. Ellis, University of Florida.
  6. “Acaricide Tolerance by Diutinus and Non-Diutinus Workers,” Lizette Dalgren, University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
  7. “Improving honey bee queen quality via nutritional and hormonal treatments,” Dr. Ming H. Huang, North Carolina State University.
  8.  “An integrated IPM program using non-chemical controls to manage parasites in honey bee colonies,” Kathleen C. Evans, M.S. and Dr. Deborah A. Delaney, University of Delaware.
  9. “A decision support system for honeybee colony management,” Dr. James L. Frazier, Pennsylvania State University. 

All bee research projects funded by the National Honey Board are listed on the Board’s website, www.honey.com.  Visitors can click on the “Honey Industry” tab and then go to “Honey and Bee Research” for further information on completed and ongoing projects.  
 
The National Honey Board conducts research, advertising and promotion programs to help maintain and expand markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey.