Salt Lake City, Utah-August 25th 2021.
Background
Managed honey bees in North America are under increasing pressure to meet pollination demands for our food supply. At the same time, annual colony losses are high- 45.5% in the US in 2020, and the natural forage which gives bees healthy nutrition and a honey crop for producers is decreasing. Colony losses are often attributed to pathogens, parasites, pesticides, hive management (queen mating, genetics, maintenance), climate, and available nutrition. United States honey production in 2020 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 148 million pounds, down 6% from 2019. Sustainable beekeeping is dependent on maximizing outputs (colony health, colony numbers, pollination contracts, honey production, profitability) while minimizing the inputs (time, money, personnel, treatments). A sustainable beekeeping industry contributes to a more sustainable agricultural landscape through a stable supply of bees for crop pollination. Therefore, PAm is requesting research proposals that focus on enhancing the health, survival and productivity of honey bee colonies, which provide practical and tangible solutions to the beekeeping industry.

A. I. Root Company Honey Blends candles are a lovely example of the good that companies can do for the world, and for honey bees.    ​

The A. I. Root Company has a fascinating story and a deep history with honey bees.  The founder, Amos Ives Root, became involved in candle-making through his interest in bee keeping. In the 19th century, he was behind many advances in bee keeping, leading the movement to standardizing beekeeping equipment. His Airline Honey was known nationally as the finest honey on the market. He wrote a popular book on bees - The ABCs of Bee Culture - and founded a magazine for bee keepers named Gleanings In Bee Culture.  Little wonder A.I. Root was known as "the bee man" in fifteen languages the world over.  Today, A. I. Root Company is still actively involved in advancing the knowledge and science of bee keeping. ​

Project Apis m.'s executive director Danielle Downey has been involved in groundbreaking research breeding and developing varroa resistant bees in Hawaii since 2010.

​One of PAm's key partners in this project is beekeeper David Thomas, the owner of Hawaii Island Honey Company, who joined the effort in 2012, offering staff, resources, and even building a lab for the project! David's apiaries have been displaced by the Kilauea eruption and his business is being effected.
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Follow the link here to read and see video about what's happening at the Hawaii Island Honey Company, and stay posted for the current status of breeding Varroa resistant bees in Hawaii.