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Bienenjahr 2022/2023
Bee health - Save the Bees
Research field discontinued on 06/12/2016
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​ How do prey locations in different environments influence bee health directly and in the long term?
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​ The particular in comparison by at the locations polluted by the "agricultural industry" vers. "Near-natural, less polluted locations", in sparsely populated or unpopulated areas. Observation period 5 years.
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The foundation is investigating this issue at several locations in Germany and abroad. We are still looking for highly polluted locations (directly on busy motorways, crossroads, in the catchment area of coal-fired power plants, etc.).
Research field discontinued on March 30, 2017
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How does the amount of honey extraction affect bee health in the long term?
First observations at different locations have shown that a greatly reduced honey extraction or a complete waiver, which greatly improves bee health and reduces bee mortality. These first results are to be checked by means of long-term field tests (5 years).
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There are several locations where the first results are available from a direct comparison between individual bee colonies. This gives rise to an "initial suspicion" that colonies to which the honey is left completely are significantly more robust and resistant and that they survive the winter with lower failure rates.
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We are still looking for beekeepers who will take part in the test series, each with at least 2 colonies. The foundation partially compensates for an economic loss.
Research field discontinued on July 1st, 2019
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How do high-frequency (e.g. mobile radio) and low-frequency (e.g. high voltage, overhead lines) radiation affect the health of bees?
From our point of view, this field has so far not been adequately researched. The suspicion is obvious and is partially confirmed that high-frequency radiation in particular is responsible for the so-called "Colony Disorder Collapse", through which entire colonies fly out, lose their orientation and do not return. That Against the background of reports from the USA, the topic is also to be expanded to include the new 5G technology.
The foundation has purchased appropriate measuring devices and carried out the first field tests in 2018. The research program is to be expanded in 2020.
Main topics
​1. Bee deaths
1.1. Quantitative recording
1.1.1. Complete failure of colonies between April and October
1.1.2. Complete failure of colonies between November and March
1.1.3. Increased bee mortality with quantitative recording in the same period
2. Vorroa - mite infestation
2.1. Quantitative recording of the number of mites in the above periods
2.2. Quantitative recording of the bee infestation
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Premise: treatment of peoples with oxalic acid (vaporizer) in late autumn and formic acid in spring.
Locations
​1. Locations in the area of intensive, conventional agriculture.
1.1. Survey on the seeds used (pretreatment) and
Soil preparation.
1.2. Survey on the use of pesticides. Determination of the quantities applied per hectare.
2. Locations in the area of predominantly organic agriculture
(Demeter / Bioland).
2.1. Survey on the seeds used and the preparation of the soil.
2.2. Survey on the use of pesticides and fertilizers. detection quantities applied per hectare.
3. Locations in the area of non-industrialized areas without agricultural
use, in sparsely populated areas.
Location options
1.) Metropolitan areas such as Stuttgart, Munich, Hamburg.
Regions with intensive conventional agriculture such as Mecklenburg Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Lower Bavaria.
Fruit growing areas in conventional use such as Lake Constance region, Altes Land.
Rapeseed growing areas in the main growing areas of Thuringia / Saxony.
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To 2: Large Demeter farms with corresponding cultivation areas in
Southern Germany.
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to 3: Central Portugal, Canada
Next Steps
Contacting beekeepers / beekeeping associations in Germany, Portugal, Hungary and Canada.
Contacting universities.
Establishing contact with institutions in the field of conventional and alternative beekeeping.
Elaboration of the survey profiles.
Acquisition of cooperation partners.
Positioning.
Development of a support concept to motivate young beekeepers.