Research project kicks off with the Applied Genomics Center at KPU

We kicked off our spring research trials of ApiSave^TM last week with Mathias Schuetz PhD, Scott Gordon, and the research team at the Applied Genomics Center at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)!

Here's a photo of the team at the site of the research, including our CEO, Guan Lim, and our COO, Ming Sun.

‍

Part of the process of running this trial entails checking the bees for Varroa mite by directly inspecting their bodies. The researchers will first smoke the hives to get the bees to come out so they can capture the bees. Then they will inspect them to see if they can find Varroa mite there.

The bee in the image below has a Varroa mite living in the surface of its body. This image was taken last week at the research site after capturing a bee. You are able to see the Varroa mite if you look closely:

‍

‍

Mathias Shuetz PhD, a plant cell biologist with expertise in molecular biology, biochemistry, and plant genetics, leads our KPU research team. He has over 15 years of research experience working on plant molecular biology and regularly publishes his research in the highest-ranking scientific journals in the plant sciences research field. Three research students from AGC will be joining the project as well. 

Here's Mathias explaining to the NRCS team about how the procedure will go:

We have partnered with a commercial beekeeper in BC, Scott Gordon, who contributes over 25 years of industry experience in pollination through Bee Natural Apiaries (https://www.beenaturalapiaries.com/). Our study will include 90 hives during BC's active blueberry pollination season. We will collaborate with the Applied Genomics Center at KPU to analyze the bees throughout this study to measure an array of health parameters.

Take a look at Scott's beehives below. These beehives are well cared for under Scott's supervision!

On the left below we have a sample of bees that were pulled from the beehives to be checked for Varroa mite. The other two images show what it looks like to smoke a hive and take the honey bee trays out to get access to the bees.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to this exceptional team for their invaluable contributions. Their collective expertise and industry experience are instrumental in our mission to develop the best solutions for bees, thereby ensuring food security and ecological protection in Canada and beyond. We look forward to continuing this journey together.

We will keep everyone posted on the results of the study!