Research and innovation in Mongolia

Togtokhbayar Norovsambuu, Head of Professor’s Team, School of Animal Sciences and Biotechnology, Mongolian State University of Life Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Since 1959 apiculture has been developing in Mongolia, based on its rich bee forage resources. In 1974 the Mongolian government decided to support beekeeping on a scientific basis with the Bee Breeding Research Unit, expanded into a research and production station in October 1983.

The station carried out scientific work on bee production and care, wintering of colonies, queen rearing, bee breeding, establishment of beekeepers’ labour norms, and the study of honey plant resources and the biochemical composition of honey and other products. However, during the transition period, from a central-planned economy to a market-based economy, and the privatisation of state-owned beekeeping enterprises, the collapse of research stations led to a sharp decline in research.

The innovative project Introduction of advanced technology to beekeeping and production of ecologically pure biological additives was implemented with a grant from the Science and Technology Foundation of the Ministry of Education and Science of Mongolia (2017- 2019).

Geobotanical data recording

Togtokhbayar Norovsambuu

Also from 2013 the Japan International Cooperation Agency implemented projects to develop Mongolian beekeeping (see BfD Journal 140).

Research by the Asian Development Bank’s Agricultural Value Chain Development Project, from 2017 to 2021 included:

Results of research and training on bee pasture management

A survey mapped pastures with honey plants at participating farms to determine flowering time, recommended use and types of honey collected. The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and covered covered 17 soums of aimags including Darhan Uul, Dornod, Hentii, Orkhon and Bulgan, Selenge and Tuv aimags. During the study, geographical locations of bee pastures of Project Participated Enterprises (PPE) were identified through sampling 25 points producing 1:100,000 scale maps of 706.4 hectares of bee pastures.

Flowering calendars for honey plants were developed and beekeepers provided with training on pasture management for bees.

Effects of Apis mellifera pollination on yields and quality of strawberries in greenhouses

Researchers from the School of Agro-ecology of the State University of Life Science determined the effect of bee pollination on strawberry crops grown in summer greenhouses in 2018 and winter greenhouses in 2019. The study revealed that pollination by bees influenced the appearance, shape, and quality of the strawberries and that deformity of fruit was corrected by 96-100%. Standard crop yield reached 87.4-93.4%, with a significant reduction in waste.

A trial to determine the effects of pollination by bees in open fields of buckwheat and oilseed rape was conducted in collaboration with crop farmers in the Tsagaannuur and Zuunburen soums of Selenge aimag.

Results showed that not only did plant yield increase dramatically but also honey harvest increased to 25-30 kg for buckwheat and 44kg for rapeseed per colony. Based on the research, training cards for pollination of buckwheat, rapeseed, strawberries and tomatoes by bees were developed and a manual on Technology of pollination services by bees published.

Quadrant sampling of nectar and pollen sources

Togtokhbayar Norovsambuu

Nectar and pollen sampling

Togtokhbayar Norovsambuu

Interviews with local beekeepers

Togtokhbayar Norovsambuu

Researchers discussed with beekeepers the effects of pollination by bees in open fields

Togtokhbayar Norovsambuu

Biological characteristics and antioxidant properties of Mongolian honey

The highest results in TPC, TFC, and vitamin E were detected in honey collected from buckwheat.

Researchers analysed total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), vitamins A, C, E, and minerals Calcium, Iron, Potassium and Zinc in ten different samples of honey from four organisations.

The honey derived from Thymus spp showed significant high data in vitamin C with 6.41 µg/g and the second-highest result in vitamin A with 0.92 µg/g.

In TPC and TFC the thyme honey also displayed moderate-high data.

The highest DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) record with 31.53 mg/ml and vitamin E content with 0.94 µg/g was from honey produced from pasture, where the dominant plants was Scabiosa comosa and Allium senescens.

The highest amount of calcium and potassium in honey was from Thymus spp.

The highest amount of iron was detected in canola honey with 2294 mg/l, and Zinc was highest in the multi-floral honey.