Canada’s new National Bee Diagnostic Services Centre is one more tool to help beekeepers keep their bees happy and healthy.
The centre, based at an Agriculture Canada facility near Beaverlodge, Alta., will use advanced scientific techniques to research pests, pathogens and parasites.
The diagnostic centre received almost $1 million from the Rural Alberta Development Fund. Organizers hope the centre will be self sufficient after the initial start-up.
The Centre for Research and Innovation, which is based out of Grande Prairie Regional College, will oversee the bee facility.
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Bruce Rutley, director of the Centre for Research and Innovation, said the new diagnostic bee facility dovetails with the restarting of the beekeeper program at the college’s Fairview College campus and existing work at the Beaverlodge Research Farm, which has the only bee research program in Canada.
Rutley said he expects the new centre will provide a much needed service to beekeepers across Canada. Beekeepers have experienced higher than normal mortality rates in their hives, and it’s hoped the new diagnostic centre will help beekeepers improve and maintain the health of their bees.
The centre is expected to be staffed with a scientist, technician and administration assistant and should be able to offer services to beekeepers by fall.
Alberta Beekeepers president Terry Greidanus welcomed the new centre, saying it’s important to improve disease prevention and increase the viability of the industry.
“I think it’s very critical to do bee diagnostics.”
He said it’s one more sign governments appreciate the importance of bees to the agriculture industry, nature and the economy.
“It looked like a really natural fit. The Peace country is a major player in the beekeeping industry in Canada.”
