The June 28, 2016 edition of Apis Information Resource News has been published. Among other news is that referencing Project Apis m 2.0.
Perhaps most significant news this month is the following initiatve via Project Apis m or PAM; “Paso Robles, Calif. (June 20, 2016) – Project Apis m. announced today the names of scientists and research projects seeking to answer key questions around bee health to receive funding as part of the Healthy Hives 2020 initiative. Healthy Hives 2020 is an initiative of the Bayer Bee Care Program and administered by Project Apis m. with the goal of improving the health of honey bee colonies in the United States by the year 2020.
“Projects funded cover critical bee health topics such as bee nutrition, Varroa and disease management, and enhanced management techniques through smart-hive technology. The recipients were selected from a total of 23 research proposals seeking to provide practical and tangible solutions to the key issues affecting the U.S. beekeeping industry. More projects will be funded as the Healthy Hives initiative moves forward.
“PAM has also joined forces with the Honey Bee Health Coalition to in its words: “The Coalition can take us places we couldn’t go alone. Project Apis m. is proud to be a member and to have a role on the steering committee.”
PAM has become a major player in honey bee research over the last few years, principally due to the Almond industry’s concern about the health of its pollinators. The web site is full of relevant information, including words from the Chairman, Dr. Gordon Wardell, known for his studies on honey bee nutrition. His latest offering concerns climate change’s effect on goldenrod, an important food source for honey bees. There is a significant risk that pollinators and their plants might get out of sync due to climate change, resulting in unintended consequences.
Finally, the current PAm Executive Director is stepping aside: “After 10 years, $6 million in honey bee research and programs, 53 board meetings, and hundreds of presentations and articles, I am passing the baton for PAm 2.0 to Danielle Downey, PAm’s new Executive Director. PAm 1.0 was far more successful than any of us could have imagined. Providing funds for scientists working to help honey bees, awarding scholarships to build the next generation of new scientists, purchasing equipment for bee labs, initiating habitat and BMP programs, gaining a solid reputation not only within the bee industry, but also among scientists, regulators and with corporate sponsors and then leaving PAm financially sound with an awesome new leader make me proud of what we have accomplished during the reign of PAm 1.0. I still have many years of mountains to climb, grandchildren to love, and even some bee projects where I can assist, but running PAm is a big job and requires new vision with more youth and energy! An overwhelming thanks to our great board, staff, science advisors, scientists, sponsors, donors and most of all to an industry where people are not just colleagues, but life-long friends.” Christi Heintz.
