Biosecurity measures in European beekeeping

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Entomology
• Apiculture Science
• Animal Health Management

Background:

• Emerging honey bee pathogens pose significant threats to the beekeeping industry.
• Biosecurity measures in beekeeping (BMBs) are vital for maintaining honey bee health and sector development.
• A clear definition of BMBs has been established by expert consensus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and define Biosecurity Measures in Beekeeping (BMBs) relevant to the European context.
• To classify BMBs considering productivity and the 'One Health' approach (human health, honey bee health, environmental protection).
• To rank identified BMBs based on expert-assigned priority scores.

Main Methods:

• Expert panel collaboration within the BPRACTICES project.
• Identification of BMBs for prevalent European honey bee diseases: varroosis, American foulbrood (AFB), European foulbrood (EFB), nosemosis, and aethinosis.
• Classification and prioritization of 84 described BMBs.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive list of 84 Biosecurity Measures in Beekeeping (BMBs) was identified for key European honey bee diseases.
• BMBs were categorized according to productivity and the 'One Health' framework.
• Prioritization scores were assigned to each BMB by a panel of experts.

Conclusions:

• The implementation of identified and prioritized BMBs is essential for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of European beekeeping.
• Effective biosecurity strategies are critical for mitigating the impact of emerging pathogens on honey bee populations.
• Adoption of these measures supports a holistic approach to animal health, human well-being, and environmental protection.