The use of innovative technology in breeding and maintaining the welfare of bees in order to obtain products of excellent quality

As part of the operation, an innovation task force (EPI) was set up, comprising representatives from various sectors: science, consulting, entrepreneurship, and agriculture. Each participant had a specific and important role to play.

The main objective of the project was to optimize apiary management by using honeycomb sheets in injection technology to improve bee welfare and the quality of bee products. This objective was achieved by:

• developing and implementing significantly improved products, including bees and honey,
• developing and implementing modern injection technology on foundation sheets, improving the welfare of bees and the quality of bee products, as well as enabling the monitoring of bees using a digital device that monitors the activity of the bee colony.

Specific objectives of the project:

1. To reduce the risk of pathogen accumulation in the hive, thereby preventing the development of fatal diseases in bees and brood, including American foulbrood (a disease controlled by the authorities) and nosemosis. Bee pathogens often accumulate in wax, remaining there for years, especially when the wax is disinfected incorrectly or not disinfected at all. The production of foundation from such wax poses a direct threat to bee colonies.
2. Elimination of residues of prohibited substances in foundation, such as antibiotics or sulfonamides. These substances accumulate in wax and can pass into honey, posing a risk to consumer health, especially for people with allergies.
3. Elimination of the problem of adulterated honeycomb, which is notorious in Poland. Thanks to plastic honeycomb, beekeepers can produce wax in a closed cycle, which eliminates the risk of introducing pathogens and prohibited substances into the apiary.
4. Development of a device to monitor bee colony activity, including CO₂ concentration, sound intensity, humidity, temperature, and the number of bee entrances and exits. The system allows for constant monitoring of bee colonies and reduces losses due to theft or late detection of disease.
5. Optimization of labor costs in beekeeping through the use of plastic frames.

The main benefits of the project

The objectives and results achieved by the project are consistent with the provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Rural Development Program 2014–2020.

The proposed solutions confirm that the use of polypropylene combs in beekeeping farms is effective and efficient and significantly improves the welfare of bees. As a result, the project contributes to improving the quality of beekeeping products, protecting the health of bees, and improving the natural environment.

In addition, the results of the project indicate that there is still potential for further research and innovation in this area, which allows for the continuation of scientific development and the implementation of further innovative solutions in beekeeping.

Results achieved

The implementation of the project has brought positive results in terms of both improving the quality of bee products and the welfare of bees:

• Increased apiary productivity through the use of modern hives and injection technology in comb production.
• Improved quality of honey, wax, and other bee products, which has a positive impact on consumer health and the competitiveness of beekeepers on the market.
• Improved bee health through the use of polypropylene foundation and modern hives, which has a beneficial effect on the natural environment.

Thanks to polypropylene foundation, the possibility of adulteration with stearin or paraffin has been eliminated and the transmission of bee pathogens has been reduced. This has significantly improved the welfare of bee colonies and reduced the need for veterinary drugs, which has also improved the quality of honey and other bee products.

Furthermore, the use of a bee colony activity monitoring system has enabled better apiary management and planning of activities on beekeeping farms.

The project has also contributed to raising beekeepers' awareness of modern technologies and good beekeeping practices.

Additional comments

The planned outcome of the operation was to implement a system for producing honey and other bee products based on the use of food-grade polypropylene combs in the apiary. This solution was intended to eliminate the risks associated with the use of traditional foundation, which is often contaminated with pathogens.

Another important result was the elimination of the risk of purchasing foundation containing harmful substances, such as stearin or paraffin, which negatively affect the welfare of bee colonies.

The introduction of polypropylene foundation, covered with a thin layer of wax from the apiary's own hives (based on a developed spraying system), allowed the wax cycle in the apiary to be closed. This was important in limiting the spread of bee diseases both locally and nationally.