Washington, DC
July 17, 2008
U.S.
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced today that more
than $4 million will be awarded to the University of Georgia to
study the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and other
diseases affecting bee populations, whose pollination is valued
at $15 billion annually to U.S. agriculture.
"Bees are an extremely valuable contributor to the overall
productivity of American agriculture, but invasive pests,
diseases and environmental stresses are putting U.S. bees at
serious risk," Schafer said. "This research will help beekeepers
meet the pollination demand for the nation's food supply."
The Protection of Managed Bees Coordinated Agricultural Project
(CAP), funded through a 4-year grant from USDA's
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service (CSREES),
aims to improve the health of managed bee populations in
agricultural systems. The research will address genomics,
breeding, pathology, immunology and applied ecology to explain
the causes behind dwindling bee populations. Researchers will
work closely with the extension community and other stakeholders
to develop and implement mitigation strategies for CCD and other
significant problems.
CCD became a matter of concern in the winter of 2006-2007 when
an estimated 25 percent of the beekeepers in the United States
reported major losses of adult bees from their hives.
CAP projects combine significant funding over time and across
institutions to support discovery and applications, and promote
communication leading to innovative science-based solutions to
critical and emerging national priorities and needs. These
integrated projects focus not only on research to solve critical
issues, but also feature education and extension components that
bring knowledge gained through research to citizens at the local
level. The project will complement and/or link with existing
programs and projects at the national level.
CSREES committed $1.7 million to honeybees and pollinator
research in Fiscal Year 2007. National program leaders at USDA's
Agricultural Research Service and CSREES developed an action
plan for CCD, which is a long-term plan for research, extension
and educational activities that are recommended to address this
important problem. Background information about CCD and the
action plan is available at www.ars.usda.gov/is/br/ccd.
CSREES funded this CAP project under the National Research
Initiative. Dr. Mary Purcell-Miramontes, national program leader
for arthropod and nematode biology, developed this new CAP
project and will be coordinating this new funding opportunity.
Through federal funding and leadership for research, education
and extension programs, CSREES focuses on investing in science
and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and
the nation's future. For more information, visit
www.csrees.usda.gov. |
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