Lessons from the Hive 2017

As this year comes to a close, we look back on the accomplishments, lessons learned, and work to be done within Project Apis m.’s “hive” at the intersection of beekeeping and agriculture.

Like the bees we love and seek to protect, it takes the dedication of many! To the beekeepers, growers, donors, supporters, participants, researchers, affiliated organizations and associations, industry businesses, volunteers, and colleagues in the honey bee world —thank you! Individually, we could never achieve what we can by working together! We are grateful for your advocacy, financial support and frankly, your grit to help solve the complex problems and opportunities our industry and our honey bees face.

This year, you’ve helped PAm advance honey bee health in three critical areas:
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1. Investment in research that generates practical solutions, today and for the future.

• New leadership joined our Scientific Advisory Team — Dr. Michelle Flenniken. This team is working to improve our process to identify and fund the most impactful and relevant research priorities. Watch for changes and new tools in 2018.
• Two notable research projects this year include the world’s first honey bee Germplasm Repository in cooperation with Washington State University and PAm directed research to select and breed Varroa Resistant bees.
• We actively foster tomorrow’s scientists — Costco-PAm Ph.D. Scholar Laura Brutscher, groundbreaking research project funding for graduate student, Samuel Ramsay, and Costco Canada and Costco USA scholarships for eight graduate students in the USA and Canada — is an investment in the sustainability of our industry.
• Visit our website to learn more about PAm research projects.

2. Planting forage habitat where bees need good nutrition most

• Providing expertise and free seed for growers to plant cover crop in California’s agricultural landscapes — home to the world’s largest pollination event with the almond bloom — through our Seeds for Bees program.
• Rally support from diverse stakeholders from beekeeping and agriculture to pollinator conservation and resource management, from individuals to corporations, and public to private entities.
• Investment in re-establishing pollinator habitat in the Midwest and Great Plains where bees summer through our sister organization, The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund.

 
3. Collaboration to leverage our learning and maximize our efforts

• PAm is a strong voice advocating honey bee health, working to harmonize research priorities, working smart to utilize the resources our industry can gather.
• We actively collaborate with many industry donors, organizations and business including the National Honey Board, Health Hives 2020, Costco, Honey Bee Health Coalition, ag industry businesses, and more.
• We are committed to stronger collaboration with CSBA, NAPPC, NDDA, and ABC on honey bee health projects. Together we can maximize our efforts, produce attainable long-term goals and reduce redundancy.

Every year we look back and assess our results. What worked? How are PAm programs providing movement toward our goals? What do we need to revamp or enhance? Are there new ideas, partnerships, and initiatives to increase and leverage our impact? And always, how can we drive our mission on behalf of honey bees forward?

I am interested in hearing your ideas for the future of beekeeping and honey bee health. Contact me! Your past, present, and future support make all the difference.
 
Happy Holidays!