Project

Development of an original global management tool for bee health destined for the bee keepers.

Code
160M2315
Duration
01 November 2015 → 31 January 2018
Funding
Federal funding: various
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Biochemistry and metabolism
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Medical biochemistry and metabolism
    • Medical biochemistry and metabolism
    • Medical biochemistry and metabolism
Keywords
bee health
 
Project description

The seven specific research questions are:

  1. What are the current management practices implemented by beekeepers and what are the corresponding recordedmortality rates?
  2. Are certain beekeeping management practices more correlated with bee mortality than other?
  3. How to develop a reporting system (scores) to systematically record the beekeeping management practices?
  4. Can we design an online check list system for recording beekeeping practices (Bee Best Check), evaluate them automatically and suggest aspects for improvement tailored to each beekeeper (self-assessment system accountingthe specific situation of each beekeeper)?
  5. What are the determinants that induce the beekeeper choice for a management method over another? (Sociological analysis)
  6. For a selection of beekeepers, can we demonstrate that changed beekeeping practices may influence the overall score and consequently the bee mortality?
  7. What recommendations can be deduced for good beekeeping practices to reduce the bee mortality in Belgium?