The FINANCIAL -- Bayer initiates a global “Bee Care Program” to further promote bee health.

According to Bayer AG, as part of the program, two dedicated “Bayer Bee Care Centers” are to be established. In Europe, one center is scheduled to open in Monheim, Germany, in mid-summer. A second center, which will focus on North America, is planned for later in the year in North Carolina, United States.

The new centers will serve as a scientific and communication platform to consolidate existing and future bee health projects from Bayer companies in cooperation with external partners. They will also foster information sharing and will provide a platform for discussion and new ideas. Bayer believes that this collaboration is essential in order to find sustainable solutions that will improve honey bee health.

Honey bee care – challenges and solutions -- Bayer CropScience is working with the agricultural communities worldwide to ensure the safe use of crop protection products which are essential to protect plants from pests and diseases. “At Bayer we take our responsibility to bee health very seriously,” said Sandra Peterson, Chief Executive Officer of Bayer CropScience. “We make great efforts to ensure that our products can be used in a bee-responsible manner. We do this through researching and extensive testing of our products, thorough risk assessment and the focused stewardship measures we have put in place. Our plans to establish these two Bayer Bee Care Centers further underline our commitment to global bee health.”

Given the essential role that honey bees and other pollinators play in the pollination of a large number of food crops, there has been considerable public interest in the discussions and science related to honey bee health and colony losses over the last few years. Although the global number of bee colonies increased by approximately 45 percent over the last half century the decline in Europe and North America over recent years due to a number of factors including diseases, parasites, extreme climatic and environmental factors and also certain agricultural and apicultural practices is concerning.

The “Bayer Bee Care Center” in Monheim will have a dedicated full-time team of specialists, including two experienced beekeepers. It will use state-of-the-art technology to provide a modern meeting and workshop environment, bringing together beekeepers, farmers, research institutions, educational professionals and others concerned with the health and welfare of bees. Additional activities will be progressively rolled out by the “Bayer Bee Care Program”, including educational projects and bee health promotion schemes such as the planting of flowers and natural habitat which is essential for bees to thrive. Pilot schemes were already launched last year.

Related Stories

• Brand Equity will be Key to Consumers’ Health Insurer Selections
• ASHM Designation Recognizes Safety and Health Professionals
• ASCO Abstracts Highlight Late-stage Sanofi Oncology Pipeline