July 2022
Farm to Plate is Vermont’s food system plan being implemented statewide to increase economic development and jobs in the farm and food sector and improve access to healthy local food for all Vermonters.
Vermont Food System Plan Brief Highlight
Bees & Honey
The Vermont food system plan issue brief on bees and honey describes the value of bees in the production of food crops, along with the various threats to managed and wild bee populations. Bees contribute upwards of $24 billion to the U.S. economy each year, and Vermont is home to 14,553 hives producing 727,650 lbs of honey annually.
However, Vermont bee populations and beekeepers are facing challenges. Stressors resulting in bee population decline include pests and pathogens, habitat destruction, and the use of pesticides.
Bee loss directly affects biodiversity, food security, and the agricultural economy. Protecting the future of bee populations is necessary to maintain the productivity of pollinators and their contribution to Vermont’s food system and economy.
Key Bottlenecks & Opportunities:
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Honey fraud has resulted in a downward pressure on honey prices due to an oversupply of product in the marketplace. There is a lack of long-term data on bee losses in Vermont. It is important to understand these losses and the relationship to habitat loss, pesticide use, pests and pathogens, and honey bee management practices.
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Expanded in-state laboratory services, along with use of USDA laboratories, could offer pest and pathogen diagnostic services for Vermont beekeepers.
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Vermont employs a Pollinator Health Specialist who serves as a full-time apiculturist during the bee season and is collaborating with the Vermont Beekeepers Association. Increased collaboration with UVM researchers and Extension staff would help to achieve research and education goals.
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VAAFM has begun collecting data on colony losses and pest/pathogen management, helping stakeholders to understand patterns of bee health over time and the relationship to beekeeping management practices.
Recommendations Include:
The brief’s recommendations for addressing these bottlenecks and opportunities includes improving state laboratory services, investigating adulterated honey at retail stores and publishing results for consumer awareness, developing a honey certification program, increasing incentives for bee forage and pollinator habitat.
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Submit a Breakout Session Proposal!
Submissions Due: August 5, 2022
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