Alberta Home to New Bee Diagnostic Centre
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
Alberta will now be the home of a new National Bee Diagnostic Centre that will focus on honeybee diagnostics. The facility was made possible through the federal government’s Western Economic Diversification Canada department that seeks to promote the development of the economy in Western Canada. The federal government contributed $1,193,500 to the facility while the Rural Alberta Development Fund provided $925,360 that will go towards the operational costs for the facility over a three year period. The facility is located at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Beaverlodge research farm.
The first of its kind bee diagnostic research centre will focus much of its resources on honeybee mortality rates and causes such as pets, pathogens and parasites. This research is so crucial since honeybees play a vital part in our food system and are responsible for one-third of the food that we eat. According to Statistics Canada there were a total of 7,671 beekeepers across the country that produced 78.1 million pounds of honey. Beyond the study of honeybee diagnostics, the centre will also pursue international trade of honeybees as well as serve as a tremendous resource for beekeepers and will provide free diagnostic services.