Salt Lake City, Utah-August 22nd 2022. Managed honey bees in North America continue to be under increasing pressure to meet pollination demands for our food supply. At the same time, annual colony losses are increasing- 48.2% in the US in 2022, 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 2022 from producers with five or more colonies totaled 126 million pounds, down 1% from 2021 .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, Project Apis m. (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. The funding sponsor for these proposals is the National Honey Board (NHB), with PAm administering the proposal, funding process, and award accountability. PAm administers several other initiatives with funding from many sources, including corporate sponsors, private donations, and grants. Past proposals received and funded by PAm and NHB reflect a similar focus on supporting the industry.
The National Honey Board is an industry-funded agriculture promotion group that works to educate consumers about the benefits and uses for honey and honey products through research, marketing, and promotional programs. Project Apis m. is the largest non- governmental, nonprofit honey bee research organization in the USA. Established by beekeepers and almond growers in 2006, PAm has infused over $11 million into bee research to provide beekeepers with healthier bees resulting in better pollination and increased crop yields. Read or download the full RFP, including funding priority areas and application instructions, here.
3 Comments
8/29/2023 11:13:58 am
I began researching this January if placing honeybees in cold storage using a normal insulated room, a window air conditioner and a Cool bot. My study was inconclusive due to the exact reason I was doing this study. Here in WV our winter losses are normally well above the national average. I believe our tipsy turvey weather. During December and January my bees flew 37 days. Each flight was at the bees maximum range coming home empty handed. Wasting the Winter bees life. How can you emerge in the spring without a strong population. My indoor bees fed on only 13 pounds of honey and 2 pounds of foundant. Place them in light clusters and in total darkness. My hives emerged stronger than outside bees. Had reserved stores and mite Free. By keeping the colonies in the dark the queen was never aware the winter equinox had came and gone signaling to her to increase brood production as the days lengthened. So being broodless for almost three months gave the Varroa Destructor no where to increase their production. In just two days the queen was easily laying more than 3000 eggs a day. I would love to continue this study but without funding I’m unable to break away from my responsibilities to my honey production company. Feel free to reach out if warranted. Email is my preferred method of communication
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Grace Kunkel
9/1/2023 06:04:19 am
Hi Eric, thank you for sharing your observations with us! SARE in another funding organization that beekeepers are encouraged to look into to continue their efforts: https://www.projectapism.org/project-apis-m-blog/beekeepers-guide-to-sare
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9/20/2023 12:35:18 am
I am interested to apply for a project on Beekeeping from our university to be funded by National Bee Board. I shall be grateful should you please send me the Project Proposal Proforma and the Guidelines.
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