Bees for development Journal 116 September 2015
NEWS FROM APITRADE AFRICA Photo © ApiTrade Africa
T SHIRT WINNERS 2 In BfdJ 114 we reported on the outcomes of the Survey about our Information Services: thank you to everyone who had helped us with useful feedback. We already announced T Shirt winners from our e-mail survey.
RECENT RESEARCH EFSA tackles multiple stressors Bees are under attack from many directions: parasites, infectious agents, agro-chemicals and environmental changes are some of the stressors that are known to damage honey bee colonies. But how do these factors work in combination? Is it possible to devise a model that can take account of all these stressors and predict how they will affect a colony? The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA*) has launched a major project to address these questions, with the ultimate goal of establishing a framework for the risk assessment of multiple stressors in honey bee colonies. The long-term project involves bee specialists and experts in animal health, plant health, pesticides, data and modelling. EFSA is working closely with the European Commission, EU Member States, other agencies and research bodies. Veterinarian Simon More from University College Dublin, Ireland, Chair of EFSA’s Multiple Stressors in Bees (MUST-B) Working Group, said: “This kind of integrated
approach to assessing risks to bees is absolutely necessary if we are to understand how different stressors combine to kill or weaken colonies. We need two things to build our framework: reliable, harmonised monitoring data (for example on presence in hives of infectious agents, such as bacteria and viruses, or pesticide residues); and a computerised simulation model that can process the data and both explain and predict the effects”. EFSA’s pesticide experts recommended use of the BEEHAVE model that simulates hive population dynamics by considering environmental factors such as weather conditions, availability of food (nectar and pollen), infectious agents for example Varroa mite and two associated viruses, and other factors that may affect colony development. On the data side the Project will develop survey methods and tools that can be used to gather information on the health status of honey bee colonies. Source: www.efsa.europa.eu/ *EFSA is the EU risk assessment body for food and feed safety and provides independent scientific advice to risk managers. 5
Photo © T Ubeh
The Cameroon National Apiculture Stakeholders’ Meeting was held on 15 May 2015, at the Ministry of Livestock in Yaounde. ApiTrade Africa is supporting the stakeholders, through the national association to run a national honey and beeswax trade promotional programme entitled Honey Show Cameroon. The first event will be held in November (see Look Ahead, page 14). Bosco Okello, CEO, Apitrade Africa www.apitradeafrica.org
Postal Survey Winners are: Afendia Fobella Julius (Cameroon), James Evans Boavo and Henry Kofi Darko (Ghana), Opejo Onyoin John Kokas (Uganda), Francis Kapungwe, Aggrey Mvula and Joseph Sambondu (Zambia) and James Mtisi (Zimbabwe)
Winner – Rev Tobias Ubeh
MR PAUL MZEKA At Bees for development we are saddened to hear of the death on 14 June 2015 of Mr Paul Nzegha Mzeka, Founder and Co-ordinator of the Apiculture and Nature Conservation Organisation, Cameroon. Mr Mzeka, a life-long lover of trees, was famous for coining the phrase ‘plant a tree for every bee’. He dedicated his life and work to the promotion of biodiversity, always recognising the need to integrate conservation with livelihood support. Amongst his many achievements Mr Mzeka and his dedicated team helped 30 communities to protect their watersheds and conserve four community forests. Mr Mzeka was one of the first to be selected to receive a United Nations Forest Heroes Award in 2011 (BfdJ 104).
