Bayer introduces Healthy Hives 2020 to improve bee colonies

Bayer CropScience will hold a workshop June 2-3 to determine the health status of U.S. honey bees and identify projects to improve bee health by 2020.

Healthy Hives 2020 will bring together a cross-section of bee stakeholders to better quantify healthy honey bee hive characteristics, promote cooperation on bee health issues, and develop ways to improve colony health. The best ideas will become part of an action plan sponsored by bee organizations and the North American Bayer Bee Care Center.

Bayer CropScience Pollinator Safety Director David Fischer said although the overall number of honey bee colonies in North America is increasing, they are stressed by disease, lack of forage and invasive pests.

“The goal of Healthy Hives 2020 is to define the current status of honey bee health in the U.S. and establish priorities with measurable goals to improve the health of honey bees through collaboration with some of the country’s most recognized pollinator health experts, ” Fischer said.