Sustainable beekeeping and conservation of wild pollinating insects in Norway

Informations

Funding country

Norway

Acronym

-

URL

-

Start date

1/1/2022

End date

12/31/2026

Budget

1,377,600 EUR

Fundings

Abstract

The human impact on our environment is one of the most important topics today. Food production and other land-based resources are invaluable to our survival, and we must make sure sustainability is a top priority. There is a growing body of literature that is investigating the relationship between honey bees, very important agricultural pollinators, and wild bees which are integral to natural ecosystem health. However, much of the research done has not given us many answers as to precisely how honeybees have been impacting wild pollinators. Norway is one of the best countries in which to study these interactions because of its pristine natural habitat and low honeybee density. In this project, we will use these resources and the help of Norwegian Institute of Nature Research (NINA) to create a model that will allow us to predict how many honeybee colonies could be put into certain areas and habitats to create a thriving honey and pollination industry in a way that is safe for our natural biodiversity. The project has two central parts: 1. The creation of the modelling tool that will be fed with data from the literature and from an active 3-year experiment 2. A citizen science project that will use the infrastructure of the beekeeping associations across the country to raise awareness about the importance of local honey and of our own native pollinators. With this project we hope to provide a solid tool for agricultural planning and the sustainable growth of the beekeeping industry and unite beekeepers and the public in efforts to maintain our wild pollinators and our natural habitats. This is the first project of its kind and if successful, will make Norway into a leader of sustainable agricultural development.