Navigation Block On this page Current Research Past Research Contact On this page Current Research Past Research Contact Innovation Find out more about how we can help you set long-term business goals through purposeful research. Collaborate with NBDC and leverage our expertise to address challenges in testing, proof of concept, and product development. We aim to foster business growth in apiculture, agriculture, and biodiversity. Current Research Evaluation of the effectiveness of a prophylactic treatment of honey bees with a plant extract to reduce the likelihood of bacterial and viral diseases Research Lead: Dr. Kouadio Gerard Bedie Description: Several honey bee diseases, including parasitic, viral, fungal, and bacterial, have long affected the beekeeping industry. They include American Foulbrood (AFB), European Foulbrood (EFB), varroosis, and viral diseases. These diseases have an enormous impact on the beekeeping industry, costing billions of dollars worldwide. To fight these diseases, antibiotics (such as tetracyclines, tylosin, and lincomycin) have been used to treat affected bee colonies in theUSA and Canada. The effectiveness of these chemicals has proven to be limited by the development of resistance by bee pathogens and the contamination of honey and bee products with antibiotic residues. Novel and alternative products such as plant extracts have been suggested to treat the diseases (Chaimanee et al., 2017; Garrido et al., 2024), as several plant extracts contain antimicrobial activities.Our industry partner has developed a novel plant extract to combat diseases. In this project, we propose to prophylactically treat honey bee colonies with the plant extract and evaluate bacterial and viral loads. Also, we will analyze the eventual presence of the plant extract in the honey produced by the treated colonies. Partner: Nature ReCombined Sciences Inc. https://www.apisave.com/ Funding: NSERC ARD, Nature ReCombined Sciences Inc. Past Research Improving honey bee colony survival by selecting for increased Varroa and DWV resistance and improving miticide treatment efficacy – as part of the Saskatraz project Status: Complete Description: The overall goal of this project is to improve honey bee winter survival and overall colony health through an innovative selective breeding program. Breeding by natural selection for tolerance to Varroa and DWV resistance may increase colony health, productivity, and winter survival. Partners: Meadow Ridge Enterprises Ltd, University of Saskatchewan (VIDO, Food and Bio products, Toxicology, SRC, NRC) NBDC, Canadian Beekeepers, United States Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Baton Rouge Bee Lab, and California queen producers Funding: Results-Driven Agricultural Research (RDAR) Mycological Extracts as a Treatment for Viruses In Honey Bees Status: Complete Description: The antimicrobial activity in fungi has shown potential to reduce the viral loads in honey bees. This innovative project focuses on identifying whether commercially-available extracts of mycelium (fungi) are beneficial in reducing viral loads in honey bees. Partners: Honey bee Zen, NBDC, College of The Rockies, Columbia Basin Trust, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, British Columbia Apiculture Division, University of British Columbia – Leonard Foster Lab, mycological experts. Funding: British Columbia’s Investment Agriculture Foundation Nectar Technologies Status: Complete Partners: Nectar Technologies, AAFC Funding: Nectar Technologies, AAFC Past Research Nectar Technologies Status: Complete Description: The NBDC assisted with testing and troubleshooting of a precision beekeeping device, which was designed to relay real-time colony information through a sensor placed in the hive. Partners: Nectar technologies, AAFC Funding: Nectar Technologies, AAFC Get in Touch NWP National Bee Diagnostic Centre Office: BVE104 Phone: 780-357-7737 Email: NBDC@nwpolytech.ca