Good farming practices in apiculture

Abstract

Modern European beekeeping is facing numerous challenges due to a variety of factors, mainly related to globalisation, agrochemical pollution and environmental changes. In addition to this, new pathogens threaten the health of European honeybees. In that context, correct colony management should encompass a wider vision, where productivity aspects are linked to a One Health approach in order to protect honeybees, humans and the environment. This paper describes a novel tool to be applied in beekeeping operations: good beekeeping practices (GBPs). The authors ranked a list of GBPs scored against their importance and validated by an international team, including researchers, national animal health authorities and international beekeepers' associations. These activities were carried out in the project 'BPRACTICES', approved within the transnational call of the European Research Area Network on Sustainable Animal Production Rev. Sci. Tech. Off. Int. Epiz., 38 (3) 3 3/27 (ERA-NET SusAn) in the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme of the European Union. This study, created through an international collaboration, aims to present an innovative and implementable approach, similar to applications already adopted in other livestock production systems.

Survey of reasons why women utilize honey therapeutically, and reasons for not utilizing honey

“…However, it also is unclear what is considered animal welfare in case of the management of bee hives. Future analyses will have to find out whether consumers mean good beekeeping practices which have been established or Darwinian beekeeping which aims to improve honey bee health by applying some principles of their biology to management techniques ( Rivera-Gomis et al., 2020 ; Seeley, 2019 ). Acknowledging the other dimension relating to price, handling and health, it could be reasonable to discuss these aspects with patients in order to convince them to use honey when reasonable.…”

Efficacy and Toxicity of VarroMed® Used for Controlling Varroa destructor Infestation in Different Seasons and Geographical Areas

“…Finally, it is noteworthy that the producer of VarroMed ® leaves the decision to apply an extra-treatment or not to the beekeepers, based on the Varroa infestation levels obtained after the previous treatment [51]. This approach to the treatment against Varroa mites based on an integrated pest management (IPM) includes the implementation of good beekeeping practices [52] and beekeeper education to achieve sustainable and successful beekeeping.…”

Efficacy and Toxicity of VarroMed® Used for Controlling Varroa Destructor Infestation in Different Seasons and Geographical Areas

“…Finally, it is noteworthy that the producer of VarroMed ® leaves the decision to apply an extra-treatment or not to the beekeepers, based on the Varroa infestation levels obtained after the previous treatment [51]. This approach to the treatment against Varroa mites based on an integrated pest management (IPM) includes the implementation of good beekeeping practices [52] and beekeepers' education to a sustainable and successful beekeeping.…”