Bayer and Project Apis m. have announced the funding of three new research proposals on behalf of honey bee colonies. Financing comes from the Health Hives 2020, an initiative by Bayer North American Bee Care Center that focuses on economic assessment of beekeeping operations, creating best management practices for health, evaluating smart hive technology, and assessing honey bee genetics.

The grant recipients include:

• Dr. Olav Rueppell, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, who will investigate virus content and resistance in several currently available honey bees;
• Dr. Edmund Stark, Michigan State University, who will aim to develop a commercially viable, cost-effective product to control the Varroa mite, considered by many to be the major cause of honey bee colony decline;
• Julie Shapiro, Keystone Policy Center, who submitted a proposal on behalf of the Honey Bee Health Coalition and will conduct the Bee Integrated Demonstration Project to showcase best management practices that help to reduce honey bee colony loss.

“This year’s Healthy Hives 2020 grant recipients are undertaking innovative research efforts that have the potential to make an immediate impact on honey bee colony health,” said Danielle Downey, executive director of Project Apis m. and Healthy Hives 2020 program manager. “With these projects, Healthy Hives 2020 has funded 10 honey bee research efforts.”