Bees and Honey
Honey bee health and research - Claire Waring looks at the campaign to increase funding for research into pests and diseases
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| Losses because of the damage caused by varroa mites are increasing. Bees that have developed in cells along with mites emerge with deformed wings and cannot fly and take their place in colony life |
LORD Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health, has stated that, "Honey bees are facing serious threats from a growing number of pests and diseases. It is vital that we do all we can to respond effectively to these threats and to sustain homey bees and beekeeping for today and for future generations".
He was launching the joint consultation by Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government on a strategy to improve and protect honeybee health in England and Wales.
Significant current widespread risks include American Foulbrood and European Foulbrood, which are both subject to statutory controls, and varroa mites and associated viruses. Since 2001, colony losses because of the resistance varroa has developed to available treatments have risen steadily. There are few alternative treatments that are approved by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for the treatment of bee colonies. Apart from the pests and diseases that are already here, there is the potential threat of exotic pests such as small hive beetle, parasitic brood mites and undesirable species such as the Asian hornet, which preys on colonies.
The honey bee health strategy aims to address the challenges that face beekeepers as important custodians of honeybees. It presents a plan for the future direction of work aimed at sustaining honeybee health for the next decade. Government, individual beekeepers, beekeeping associations, honey importers and others all have an important role to play and all are invited to comment on the document which can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/bee-health/index.htm. The consultation runs until August 29.
There are five key outcomes, which provide the focus for future action by government and other stakeholders including, most importantly, individual beekeepers.
These are:
effective communications and relationships operate at all levels
effective biosecurity at all levels minimises risks from pests, diseases and undesirable species
good standards of beekeeping and husbandry minimise pest and disease risks and contribute to sustaining honey bee populations
impacts from pests, diseases and other hazards are kept to the lowest levels achievable
sound science and evidence underpins bee health policy and its implementation.
Following the consultation, more specific detailed work plans will be developed by government and other stakeholders and put into action.
The British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA) welcomes the bee health strategy but continues to call for greater investment in bee research to combat pests and diseases. It is collecting signatures on a petition urging government to provide £1.6 million per annum for the next five years. It believes that this is a small return for the annual £165 million contribution that honeybees make to the agricultural economy through their pollination activities. This does not include their important role within the environment where they pollinate wild flowers and seeds, which then provide food for birds and wild animals. Currently, the government allocates £200,000 per annum to bee research.
The BBKA is asking for your support. You can download a petition form from the BBKA website (www.bbka.org.uk). On the site you will also find a sample letter to send to your MP, or you can write direct to Lord Rooker. There are three online e-petitions relating to bee research funding which can be signed at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/BeeResearch/;
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/savebeessaveman/;
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveTheBee/
If a petition has 200 signatures by the closing date, it will be passed to the official government department for a response.
There is no doubt that honeybees are at risk. Higher than normal losses have been reported in the UK this winter because of a number of factors. In the USA, there were hopes that Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) might have been a one-off problem in 2007. However, this does not appear to be the case, with beekeepers reporting serious losses in spring 2008. Millions of dollars are being put into US research into the causes of CCD and although some possible causes have been ruled out, others have been identified. Whatever is the cause, it is certainly not one factor and it is proving to be very complex.
We do not know whether CCD has reached the UK or continental Europe. Possibly not, but that is even more reason why we should be increasing research now so that we can be prepared for the eventuality. Beekeepers are contributing to the BBKA research fund but they cannot provide sufficient money for the research that is required. This needs help from the government.
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