Innovation Support

Our research drives practical solutions for pollinator health and management. From exploring biological tools to advancing colony sustainability, we support innovation that strengthens pollination systems and agricultural resilience.

Current Research

  • Status: Ongoing
  • Description: The overall goal of this project is to improving 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)
  • Status: Ongoing
  • 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

Past Research

  • 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