The major stakeholders in the beekeeping industry in the UK (BBKA, BFA, NFU and Rowse Honey Ltd) met to discuss the crisis of the declining bee population and Rowse Honey Ltd confirmed its commitment to invest £100,000 in honey bee health research over the next three years.
Discussion ranged across a number of issues. The group has united in the view that
• pests and diseases are the key priority,
• there is an urgent need to fill gaps in our knowledge and find solutions to the problem.,
• the importance of Defra prioritising research funding for disease control to support of the sector’s/industry’s own action and initiatives.
The group strongly endorsed the campaign of the BBKA for increased Defra funding for bee health research.
The BBKA and BFA have already committed funds to support research into bee health.
The NFU expressed its concern regarding the serious impact on the environment and agricultural output if the honey bee population continues to decline.
Rowse Honey is greatly concerned by the shortage of British honey, which will run out in the supermarkets by Christmas.
The group has agreed to meet regularly in the months ahead to campaign, monitor and act in concert in the face of critical declines in the bee population. It calls on DEFRA to reconsider its position with urgency , and agree to fund the necessary research.
