Project Apis M

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO FUND AND DIRECT RESEARCH AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HONEY BEE HEALTH AND VITALITY.

RESEARCH FUNDING PROJECT APIS M., INC. IS THE GO-TO ORGANIZATION AT THE INTERFACE OF HONEY BEES AND POLLINATED CROPS. SINCE 2006, THE ORGANIZATION HAS INFUSED OVER 10 MILLION INTO 164 HONEY BEE RESEARCH PROJECTS TO PROVIDE HEALTHIER BEES, RESULTING IN BETTER POLLINATION AND INCREASED CROP YIELDS FOR THE GROWER, AND LOWER LOSSES AND BETTER HONEY PRODUCTION FOR THE BEEKEEPER. PROJECT APIS M. WORKS CLOSELY WITH COMMERCIAL BEEKEEPERS, GROWERS, AND TOP BEE SCIENTISTS IN THE USA AND CANADA TO DIRECT STRATEGIC RESEARCH EFFORTS FOCUSED ON PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION FUNDS RESEARCH STUDIES, PURCHASES EQUIPMENT FOR RESEARCH LABS, AND SUPPORTS GRADUATE STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENCOURAGE CAREERS IN PURSUIT OF

PAM RESEARCH VARROA MITES OCCUR IN ALL U.S. HONEY BEE COLONIES AND TYPICALLY KILL OR DAMAGE BEES IF NOT CONTROLLED. THE MITES ARE MANAGED WITH IN-HIVE CHEMICAL TREATMENTS, BUT THERE ARE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS APPROACH. A DESIRABLE ALTERNATIVE IS TO USE BEES THAT HAVE GENETICALLY BASED MITE RESISTANCE. THE ORGANIZATIONS PROJECT, MANAGED BY A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, IS BREEDING AND IMPROVING A POPULATION OF HILO BEES THAT HAS SIGNIFICANT RESISTANCE TO VARROA. AS THE POPULATION STABILIZES, WE ARE CAREFULLY TESTING INITIAL INTRODUCTIONS TO THE COMMERCIAL BEE KEEPING INDUSTRY.

SEEDS FOR BEES SEEDS FOR BEES ENCOURAGES THE USE OF COVER CROPS TO INCREASE THE DENSITY, DIVERSITY, AND DURATION OF BEE FORAGE IN CALIFORNIA ORCHARDS, FARMS, AND VINEYARDS, WHILE IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH. SINCE 2013 63,000 ACRES OF COVER CROPS HAVE BEEN PLANTED. THE SEED MIXES AVAILABLE THROUGH SEEDS FOR BEES ARE DESIGNED TO BLOOM AT CRITICAL TIMES OF THE YEAR WHEN NATURAL FORAGE IS SCARCE BUT MANAGED AND NATIVE BEES ARE ACTIVE. SEEDS FOR BEES SERVES THE NEEDS OF BEES, BEEKEEPERS, AND GROWERS, INCREASING SUSTAINABILITY OF POLLINATION AND AGRICULTURE.