Bees for Development Journal 104
CALLING AFRICAN BEEKEEPERS
malaria is present contains anti-malarial agents. This research opens up some incredible possibilities, particularly for Africa, concerning locally available medicine for local diseases. We need to do more work: the team of researchers at the University of Strathclyde has recently been awarded research funds to look specifically at the medicinal properties of propolis in Africa.
Propolis is turning out to be an amazing substance. For the last 20 years, we have been researching its chemical and biological properties and have analysed 400+ samples from all over the world, working with the UK Universities of Bradford, Oxford and Strathclyde.
Therefore we are calling on all beekeepers in Africa to send us samples of propolis from their area along with information about the climate, plants and trees in the locality, and the diseases that affect the local human population. We need samples of about 50 g. The information we are asking for is as important as the propolis itself. Samples should be placed in a plastic bag and sealed. This should be mailed in a protective, if possible padded, envelope to the Apiceutical Research Centre (ARC). For each propolis sample we receive, ARC will sponsor the sender to receive BfD Journal for one year. We will let you have the analysis of the samples as soon as we get them and keep you informed about the course of the research.
We have discovered, for example, that where bees collect propolis in very hot and humid climates, the antibacterial properties of the propolis are greater than where the bees collect it in warm, dry climates. Why? Is it because bacteria thrive and are therefore more of a threat in hot, warm climates? Even more interesting is that we have discovered that where bees collect propolis in savannah areas where the human population suffers from sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis), then the propolis from those areas contains chemicals - antitrypanosomes - which appear to be active against sleeping sickness. However, if you look outside the area where sleeping sickness is prevalent, these chemicals are not present.
Please send your samples to: Apiceutical Research Centre, 6 Hunter Street, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 3DA, UK, and send an email to info@beesfordevelopment.org to let us know the package is on its way.
It seems that the bee is somehow picking up the plant’s response to the protozoa which cause sleeping sickness and incorporating this into its own defence mechanism. If this turns out to be true, then we could be looking at an easily accessible medicine for sleeping sickness in the very areas where the illness is present. Malaria is also carried by a protozoon, so we are interested to know whether propolis collected in areas where
Find out all about ARC at www.beearc.com where you can also find reminders about where to send your samples and what information we need: register on the site and ask us to send you the forms. James Fearnley, Director, ARC
UPDATE ON BfDJ 103 Fungicide residues bankrupt beekeepers in Vietnam Beekeepers in the Central Highlands and Southwest region of Vietnam have been ‘evacuating’ their bees to northern or western localities to ensure their honey does not contain fungicide residues as reported in BfDJ 103. Export to the USA accounts for up to 85% of the country’s total honey export, and honey must meet US import requirements.
Although beekeepers said the new barrier has hindered their exports, Mr Nguyen Xuan Binh, Director of the Animal Health Centre Region Six, said honey exports to the USA are at a normal level, and not banned as earlier reported. Mr Le Tan Luc, Deputy Director of Dak Lak Honeybee, said that the company normally exports 4,000 tonnes of honey to the USA by May each year, but so far in 2012 the figure is only 1,000 tonnes. While waiting for guidance from authorities, the company has instructed its farmers to bring their bees northwards, and have expanded also into other Asian countries to diversify their export market.
Figures from the Department of Agriculture of the Central Highlands Province of Dak Lak show that there are over 200,000 colonies of bees in the area, most belonging to the joint-stock company Dak Lak Honeybee. Annual honey production produced from cashew and rubber flowers is 5,000–7,000 tonnes.
Mr Phan Dinh Trong, Director of Dong Nai Honey, said the company had already exported 1,500 tonnes of honey in the year. He said that it is only beekeepers in the areas where rubber and cashew trees are treated with carbendazim that face difficulties to export: in other localities beekeepers are unaffected by the barrier. Mr Trong added that Vietnam’s beekeeping sector should ensure good hygiene and food safety standards for its products and source other potential markets, rather than focusing solely on the USA.
“Last year I harvested nearly 20 tonnes of honey worth VND600 million (US$28,800 €23,300)”, said Ta Minh Phung, a beekeeper in Dak Lak. “But this is now held at Dak Lak Honeybee since it has been rejected from being shipped due to its cashew and rubber origins. The company suggested that we brought our bees to the Northern provinces to make honey from litchi flowers. I had to borrow VND40 million (US$19,203; €15,540) from the company to cover expenses for the trip, while I still have an unsettled bank loan of VND200 million (US$ 9,600; €7,750),” he said.
EU legislation
Meanwhile Nguyen Chi Toan, who runs a honey farm in Buon Ma Thuot City, said he had transported 300 colonies of bees to the Northern Bac Giang and Phu Tho Provinces to make honey from litchi blooms. Mr Toan explained that he used to harvest many tonnes of honey from rubber trees, but this honey is now unmarketable so he had to raise VND100 million (US$ 4,860; €3,875) to transport the bees.
An EU delegation will visit Vietnam in September 2012 to check procedures for measuring chemical residues in Vietnamese honey. If it passes all the inspections, Vietnamese honey can return to the EU market since being banned in 2007. Source: Tuoi Tre News, 17 May 2012 6
