A €100,000 European food Safety Authority (EFSA) grant has been awarded to an EU science consortia to investigate the impact of the so-called bee colony collapse disorder’ on honey production.

Since 2003, there have been reports of serious losses of bees from beehives in Europe, with the cause being unknown, although possible factors include starvation, viruses, mites, pesticide exposure and climate change.
Hubert Deluyker, EFSA’s director of Scientific Cooperation and Assistance, says, “This project will be an important step forward in international efforts to understand and help tackle the reported decline in bee populations, which could have widespread implications not only in environmental terms but also with regard to the food chain.” The study follows preliminary research published earlier this year into EU honey production statistics.