Managing bees in a pathogenic world: research priorities to protect biodiversity

Pathogens associated with managed bees are frequently detected in wild arthropods, raising concerns about potential negative impacts on biodiversity and fueling scientific, societal, and political debate. However, major gaps remain in our understanding of the mechanisms driving pathogen spillovers, their impacts on recipient hosts, and mitigation strategies. We propose an integrative, holistic research framework beyond the current focus on pathogen detection that centers on the impacts of shared pathogens and on management strategies to mitigate risks. This reframing will help guide future research design and interpretation beyond precautionary principles, advance our understanding of epidemiological risks, and support evidence-based policymaking that balances food security with biodiversity conservation.