Challenges faced by managed and wild pollinators in British Columbia

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

1:35 PM – 1:56 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 121

Presenting Author(s)

Nuria Morfin

Lead of the BC Technology Transfer Program
British Columbia Technology Transfer Program
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Co-Author(s)

LF

Leonard Foster

Principal Investigator
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Co-author(s)

Pv

Paul van Westendorp

Provincial Apiculturist
British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture
Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
KC

Kerry Clark

Assistant Research Professor
British Columbia Tech Transfer Program
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
JC

Julia Common

Director
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
EH

Elizabeth Huxter

Bee Genomics
British Columbia Honey Producers Association
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
AK

Axel Krause

Provincial Apiculturist
British Columbia Tech Transfer Program
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are one of the most effective managed pollinators of crops of economic importance. Honey bees are also an excellent bioindicator, as they are susceptible to a number of biotic and abiotic stressors. Honey bees are facing recurrent and emerging challenges, including stress associated with pests and pathogens, environmental stressors (e.g. unpredictable climate), beekeeping management, and urban development. The British Columbia Technology Transfer Program in collaboration with research institutes will apply strategies to mitigate stress in bees and to protect managed and unmanaged pollinators in the province. The strategies include a) implementing an active surveillance of insect pathogens in different regions of British Columbia using high throughput techniques, b) supporting sustainable beekeeping practices, c) creating a network between farmers, beekeepers, and ecologists to favor agroecosystems capable of fostering pollinators, and d) using honey bees as bioindicators of abiotic stress in agroecosystems.