BAYER BEE CARE PROGRAM
NORTH AMERICA
BAYER BEE CARE PROGRAM
Honey bees and other pollinators are responsible for pollinating many of the important fruits, nuts
and vegetables necessary for a healthy diet and are an important contributor to the rich diversity
of flowering plants we enjoy around our homes and gardens. Finding solutions to increase yields
and protect pollinators is critical to food production and agricultural sustainability, which is why
Bayer established its Bee Care Program. Bayer’s Bee Care Centers in North America and Europe
were established to promote and protect the health of pollinators through research, education,
partnerships and stewardship. Complementing the North American Bee Care Center are dedicated
field technology stations designed to ensure Bayer’s research efforts include a representative
perspective of North American apiculture.
BAYER BEE CARE
INITIATIVES
For nearly 30 years, Bayer has been
committed to environmental stewardship
and the protection of beneficial insects
and bees. Scientists and staff at the
Bee Care Center are working to find
meaningful solutions to the problems
facing pollinators worldwide by:
Helping improve nutrition for
pollinators through Feed a Bee, an
initiative to plant more flowers and
establish additional forage acreages
by working with individuals and
organizations across various sectors.
Founding Healthy Hives 2020
to develop new strategies and key
areas of research focus to improve
hive health in the United States
by the year 2020 through investing
$1 million in research grants over
four years.
HONEY BEE HEALTH
Honey bee health is a complex issue and most scientists agree that honey bees are affected by a
variety of factors that include introduced pests and parasites, diseases, inadequate diet, habitat
loss, bee management practices, improper use of pesticides, climate change and loss of genetic
diversity. One of the most critical threats to bee health is the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor), an
exotic parasite introduced to North America in the late 1980s. Across the northern hemisphere,
poor bee health correlates extremely well with the presence of the Varroa mite. What can change
this pattern is improved monitoring for disorders and more sophisticated integrated management
of the bees and pests, including Varroa.
Building on the Sentinel Hives
monitoring program by helping to
evaluate and further develop new
non-invasive technologies, known
as Smart Hives, to remotely track
changes in colony health and help
improve hive management.
Screening new products to
increase beekeeper options for
managing the invasive parasite,
the Varroa mite, as well as other
pests that threaten hives.
Creating cutting-edge research
tools and benchmark analytical
processes to advance our
understanding of bee health
and scientific risk assessment.
cropscience.bayer.us/news/blog
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@Bayer4CropsUS
feedabee.com
@BayerBeeCare
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