IV SMARTBEES seminar - Slovenia (16th and 17th May 2018)
Video interviews on youtube on how to improve your beekeeping
SMARTBEES at APIMONDIA: Gold medal for DVD: "Queen rearing in an intensive system"
SMARTBEES in Research Gate
Check this project out here" Read More…
SMARTBEES at APIMONDIA, September 29th- October 4th, Istanbul, Turkey
SMARTBEES training on instrumental insemination in Pulawy, Poland
3rd Seminar for SMARTBEES coordinators in Pulawy, Poland
SMARTBEES meets Malta's president
List of publications supported by the SMARTBEES fund
Malta: European experts to discuss ways to protect endemic bees
SMARTBEES at the EURBEE, Congress of Apidology
After a short introduction by coordinator Kaspar Bienefeld at 9:45 Desiderato Annoscia will talk about "Varroa destructor and Deformed Wing Virus are linked in a mutualistic symbiosis accounting for their major role in honeybee colony collapses ";
after this presentation Adrian Siceanu will be presenting about: Preliminary study regarding infestation level of Varroa (Varroa destructor) correlated with honeybee colonies survival in a case study in Romania.
Further speakers are
- Ralph Buchler: Low Varroa mite reproduction in European honey bees
- Gennaro di Prisco: Neonicotinoids and immunity
- Ewan Campbell: Proteomic analysis of Varroa destructor saliva: do factors in mite saliva affect bee immuno-competence?
- Jakob Wegener: Proteomic analysis of hygienic behaviour in Apis mellifera carnica
- Marina Meixner: Genetic and morphometric variation of A. mellifera mellifera across its range
- Aleksander Uzunov: Genetic improvement of European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations
SMARTBEES in the EU Research and Innovation Magazine!
Researchers are developing mite-resistant bees:
The average worker bee can pollinate up to 5 000 flowers in one day, yet only produces 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its entire life. Honey production and pollination may be at risk as the bee population in parts of Europe continues to dwindle due a decline in habitable space, pesticides, and the deadly varroa mite, which has been the main reason for the majority of colony losses over the last 50 years. Some researchers, backed by EU funding, are looking into ways to measure bees’ resistance against the mite to teach beekeepers how to breed stronger populations.
You may find the full text entitled "Eight creepy crawly facts that will really bug you" if follow this link.
Training in Lithuania
Training in France
Training Portugal and Malta
SMARTBEES at the 5th Panhellenic Beekeeping Congress
Please find the talk (in Greek) for download here.
SMARTBEES at the 16th Panhellenic Entomological Congress
You may find the poster (in Greek) here for download.
Article in Greek beekeeping journal
SMARTBEES will establish a network for conservation of the European honeybee subspecies
SmartBees at the 44th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress in Korea
The status and prospects of Apis cerana
Kaspar Bienefeld, Holly Jones
Institute for Bee Research Hohen Neuendorf, Germany
Although A. cerana produces less honey per colony than A. mellifera, it is well-acclimated to its native environment, gentle, and resistant to honey bees' main threat: Varroa destructor. These factors seems A. cerana optimal for beekeeping within its natural habitat A survey was sent to 30 apiculturists throughout Asia to assess their observations of current A, cerana populations, population changes, influences of A. mellifera, and other aspects ofbeekeeping in their respective countries. On average, A. cerana populations have decreased by 55%' but up to 95% in some areas of its range, due partially to imports of European Apis mellifera and the resulting exchangeofdiseases. In62,5Yo (10of16) ofthecountriesinquestion,anevenfurtherdeclineinA'cerana populations is to be expected. Nearly all participants expressed support for A. cerana conservation measures and a third specifically emphasized the necessity of breeding progmms. As the superioi performance of A. mellifera relies largely on breeding programs, similar practices with A. cerana should improve traits which beekeepers have previously considered to be insufficient. The substantial genetic improvement in terms of productivity, behavior, and disease resistance observed in A. mellifera following the introduction of new breeding strategies attests to the effectiveness and sustainability ofthis option. In reference to the concepts ofthe new EU "Smartbees" project (www.smartbees-fu7.eu), which uses modern breeding strategies to adapt endangered A. mellifera subspecies to beekeepers'needsand thus preserve these native populations, we suggest creating a similar initiative for A. cerana'
Training in Romania
SmartBees presentation in Czech Republic
Article in the German weekly newspaper "Die Zeit"
Here is the link to the article.