Periodic Reporting for period 4 - PoshBee (Pan-european assessment, monitoring, and mitigation Of Stressors on the Health of BEEs)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-06-01 do 2023-05-31
We have quantified the exposure of bees to chemicals across Europe in two major agricultural landscape types.
PBSA: effects of chemicals
We have demonstrated significant variation at the individual-level in effects across castes and species of bee, including previously unexamined wild bee species. Using semi-field and field experiments we have determined field-realistic effects of chemicals on bee health, and how and when these can be mitigated by nutrition. We have shown that current regulated agrochemical use significantly impacts bee health in real-world agricultural landscapes.
PBSA: chemical monitoring
We have developed MALDI BeeTyping® as a tool to monitor bee health to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, as per expectations. This will provide a cheap and time-effective method to monitor bee health in the field. We have developed a cost-effective air sensor to measure agrochemicals in bee hives to TRL5, again as per expectations. We plan further development of these tools beyond PoshBee.
PBSA: nutritional monitoring
We have quantified nutritional inputs to bees across European agricultural landscapes.
PBSA: pathogen monitoring
We have quantified pathogen exposure to bees across European agricultural landscapes and developed validated methodologies for such monitoring.
PBSA: modelling for environmental risk assessment
We have developed software tools for risk assessment of environmental threats to bee health. We have developed a functional bumble bee model that will be incorporated into the MUST-B risk assessment framework
Impact: hazards
We have assessed the hazard of agrochemicals and their interactions, in combination with nutritional stress and parasites, for bees, and provided a database of results for use by EFSA, policy-makers, and other stakeholders.
Impact: new protocols to be incorporated in bee regulatory schemes
PoshBee has developed new protocols for both classic model systems and novel solitary bees. These can be used to enhance ecotoxicological testing and have been disseminated to the agrochemical industry and policy-makers in particular.
Impact: contribution of molecular approaches to monitoring plans for bee health.
PoshBee has developed a bee health card, based on MALDI BeeTyping®, which is based on an underlying proteomics database. This is at TRL6, as planned, and will become a key monitoring tool for beekeepers and bee health monitors, benefiting: local, national, and EU-level monitoring schemes; policy-makers; agrochemical industry; beekeepers; wider society.
Impact: contribute to sustainable pollination and sustainable beekeeping
We have published 16 EIP practice abstracts, to support research into sustainable pollination and beekeeping. Co-developed with our multi-actor partners, these abstracts will strengthen the broader framework for the sustainable management of bees, which will itself underpin sustainable pollination. Greater sustainability in beekeeping and pollination services will benefit: beekeepers and the managed pollinator industry; growers and suppliers; policy-makers; consumers; wider society.
Through our stakeholder group we have facilitated discussion amongst key stakeholders, including agrochemical companies, beekeepers, farmers, NGOs, and policymakers, to maintain and develop the framework for management of risks to bees going forward, delivering significant societal value.