Queen Bee - photo credit to the University of Lethbridge

By Dori Modney with files from RDAR and the U-of-L

Producers, researchers and industry work together on challenging issues – it’s the ‘Bee’s Knees’

Sep 22, 2021 | 2:55 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — It’s been a summer of agricultural challenges, caused by intense heat and dry conditions for many, but there are those who are not waiting for answers to potential problems. Three groups have joined an innovative agreement to share research and offer advice through a new tech platform.

Alberta’s Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), along with the Alberta Beekeepers Commission and AGvisorPRO have agreed in-principle, on a pilot project to use the AGvisorPRO platform to help fan out research results, offer advice on deploying new information and implementing various on-farm technologies.

Bees are crucial to agricultural pollination and production, and producers are always looking for better methods to ensure sustainability and competitiveness. Research will address the multitude of challenges and RDAR considers AGvisorPRO an effective and efficient “SmartAG” technology, to connect those seeking answers to those who have the expertise.

Alberta beekeepers account for 40 per cent of all the honey bee colonies in Canada, have faced very high levels of winter colony loss in recent years. They face chronic challenges including a shortened flowering season due to drought, excessive heat, water quality issues, overwintering losses and bee health through the winter.

RDAR funding is already supporting University of Lethbridge research into health of queen bees and their colonies

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Executive Director Alberta Beekeepers Commission, Connie Phillips, agrees that accessing the right advice is crucial to ensuring Alberta continues to lead the country in honey production and pollination of hybrid canola seed and blueberries.

“Connecting experts to producers via AGvisorPRO has the potential to accelerate understanding and collaboration through the dissemination and sharing of knowledge among the critical players in the food chain to create positive impacts on Alberta’s honeybees and improve their health.”

AGvisorPRO, founded by agricultural entrepreneur Robert Saik, allows enquiring minds to connect with experts in real time via voice, chat or video on their smartphones.

“AGvisorPRO is an Alberta-born technology company working to solve a global agriculture issues, that is, access by farmers to the right advice from the right trusted experts at the right time. By leveraging technology, we can put experts in the field without having to be physically present on the farm. I am thrilled by the opportunity to help producers, including beekeepers, by collaborating with the likes of RDAR and the Alberta Beekeepers Commission to solve challenges farmers face in the field.”

An important element to the collaboration, is that RDAR’s research priorities are determined by producers and not the researchers. It’s all about what the producer needs to maintain profitability and sustainability.

Dr. Mark Redmond, RDAR’s CEO, notes drought and heat stress issues have touched so many Alberta food producers, including beekeepers, making this type of assistance crucial.

“Producer-led every step of the way, and in response to this year’s drought and heat stress challenges, RDAR developed Fast Call, our newest responsive funding initiative. Fast Call funded projects will put needed research knowledge and extension in the hands of producers more quickly than ever before.”

You can learn more about this new tech program and other RDAR research projects at rdar.ca/research