National Bee Diagnostic Centre - TAC

Growing the North Patricia Wolf Veiga

Alberta produces 44% of the

Canadian honey

Peace Country leads Alberta’s

honey production

… and has the largest operations

40.5 million pounds

Bee Industry in the Peace Country

Canada: $170 million in hive products

$2.3 billion added value to the agriculture Falher, AB

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Where do you get your Bees tested?

Comprehensive service Limited service

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Owned-Operated by: Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) – Centre for Research & Innovation (CRI) Located at: County of Grande Prairie, at the Beaverlodge Research Station (AAFC) Partnership between: GPRC-CRI and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Investment from: the Federal Government through the Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Provincial Government through the Rural Alberta Development Fund.

“ A state-of-the-art laboratory offering comprehensive diagnostic services to the Canadian beekeeping industry and the research community. ”

September 2012

Owned-Operated by: Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) – Centre for Research & Innovation (CRI) Located at: County of Grande Prairie, at the Beaverlodge Research Station (AAFC) Partnership between: GPRC-CRI and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Investment from: the Federal Government through the Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Provincial Government through the Rural Alberta Development Fund.

“ A state-of-the-art laboratory offering comprehensive diagnostic services to the Canadian beekeeping industry and the research community. ”

September 2013

Dr. Magali Chabert-Ribiere is the Director of the Honeybee Pathology Unit for the EU Reference Laboratory in Sophia-Antipolis, France.

Owned-Operated by: Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) – Centre for Research & Innovation (CRI) Located at: County of Grande Prairie, at the Beaverlodge Research Station (AAFC) Partnership between: GPRC-CRI and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Investment from: the Federal Government through the Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Provincial Government through the Rural Alberta Development Fund.

1St Honey bee dedicated lab

“ A state-of-the-art laboratory offering comprehensive diagnostic services to the Canadian beekeeping industry and the research community. ”

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Diagnostic Services

Microscopy Microbiology Molecular biology PCR-based

Viruses: CBPV, DWV, IAPV, ABPV, BCQV, SBV, KBV

Nosema, AFB, EFB

AFB, EFB Nosema, Varroa mite, tracheal mite

The NBDC is the first comprehensive laboratory in Canada to provide a full array of diagnostic services for bee pathogens.

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Diagnostic Services

Diagnostic Services (May–Dec 2013)

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Number of samples analyzed Positive samples analyzed

Diagnostic Services

% 28 63 36 13 100 26 34 40 3 39 7 77 7

1,463 tests (May-Dec 2013)

Diagnostics

Customers

Beekeepers Researchers Industry Agency

Applied Research

Innovation

Training & Outreach

Applied Research Currently, we have two applied research projects in the Peace Country. In collaboration of GPRC faculties: • Eric Stromgren, MSc Instructor – Commercial Beekeeping Certificate Program

• Shauna Henley, PhD Instructor – Faculty of Science

Applied Research Identification and quantification of viruses affecting honey

bees in the Peace Country

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Applied Research Evaluation of Honey Bee Queen Imports in the Peace Country

In 2012, Canada imports of bees were $3.87 million:

United States - $3.4 million Australia - $0.26 million New Zealand - $0.15 million Chile - $0.05 million

197,841 queens

Alberta imported >57%

Training and Outreach

60th Field Day at the Beaverlodge Research Farm (AAFC)

Students from the Commercial Beekeeping

Program - GPRC

Training and Outreach

Dr. Carlos Castillo talking to grade 6-9 students from Montrose Jr. High for their science class.

Training and Outreach 1St Honey Bee Diagnostic Course

CRI Innovation Services

Bob Hall

Innovation Services help SMEs (Beekeepers) with the development of products, services & ventures to the marketplace.

NBDC-TAC and its place in the International Community

We have all the right pieces together.

Commercial Beekeeping Certificate Program GPRC – Fairview Campus

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Consolidation in the Canadian Bee Industry

ColoniesBeekeepers

Commercial Beekeeping Certificate Program

Training for the Next Generation of Beekeepers

Dr. Steve Pernal

Long Term Vision - National Making a significant contribution

AB NBDC

Long Term Vision Making a worthwhile contribution

Gribbles Veterinary Pathology et al

National Bee Unit

UB-CIDEFI

Anses Sophia Antipolis Honeybee Science Research Centre

ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute

Beltsville MD

NBDC

Beaverlodge Research Farm 1 Research Road, PO. Box 1118

Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0 Phone: 1-780-357-7737

Fax: 1-780-354-8080 Email: NBDC@gprc.ab.ca

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