DDD.6509.00059.2019.15 – Beehive surveillance system

 

Project no. DDD.6509.00059.2019.15 entitled: “An original method of implementing the supervisory activities of a beehive with the use of automatic technical means improving the health condition of a honey bee”

 
Agreement no.: 00055.DDD.6509.00059.2019.15 of 9/08/2021
Time of project implementation: 02/08/2021 – 31/12/2022
Acronym: Beehive surveillance system

The project is implemented under Measure M-16 Cooperation of the Rural Development Program for 2014-2020, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
 

Project budget:

Total eligible expenditure: PLN 1 269 512.81
Co-financing: PLN 1 163 720.00
including co-financing for Łukasiewicz – PIT: PLN 768 992.21.
 

Members of the consortium:

W celu realizacji projektu zawiązane zostało konsorcjum, w skład którego wchodzą:

• Wielkopolski Ośrodek Doradztwa Rolniczego (Leader)
• Łukasiewicz Research Network – Poznań Institute of Technology (consortium member)

 

A summary of the project

The project concerns a beekeeping. Bees are important for the natural environment and their work has an impact on the existence of a very large number of plant and animal species that feed on seeds and fruit. Unfortunately, bees are dying out at an alarming pace – it could lead to an ecological disaster.

Based on consultations with scientists from the University of Life Sciences in Poznań, specializing in beekeeping and with beekeepers, it was found that the main cause of bee extinction is the problem of maintaining their health. The constantly appearing diseases (varroosis, American foulbrood) are difficult to control and cause the death of entire bee colonies. The common opinion of beekeepers shows that varroosis is currently the biggest problem in an apiary and there is no simple and effective method of combating. In order to prevent the extinction of bees, it is necessary to eliminate or significantly reduce the presence of varroa in the bee environment by introducing a new method of maintaining health.

The way to solve the problem is a developing an original system for the implementation of the hive supervision activities with the use of automatic technical means. The supervisory technical measures placed in the hive will be aimed at improving the health condition of bees by combating varroosis.

Therefore, the proposed hive surveillance system will enable:

• varroa combating,
• conditioning the temperature inside the hive,
• ventilating,
• temperature and humidity measurement,
• CO₂ measurement to determine if bees are in a swarming mood,
• video preview,
• remote data transmission to the user.

The bee hive supervision system will powered both from the power grid and from a renewable energy source. For the purposes of the project, a power supply system from solar panels will also be developed.
 

Purpose of the project

The main goal of the project is to develop an original method of performing bee hive supervision using technical instruments for observing the work and behavior of bees that have a significant impact on improving their health condition. Thanks to the surveillance system, it will be possible to remotely obtain information about the occurrence of diseases in a bee colony and by using the varroa control system inside the hive, its occurrence in the living environment of bees can be limited. Addressing this problem may create a new direction in the development of beekeeping and enable the construction of electronic hives that significantly improve the health and honey-productivity aspect of bees.
 

Planned effects

The result of the operation will be to provide beekeepers with a device that is ready to be used in the effective fight against varroa destructor along with the methodology of activities for beekeepers. The description of the method with detailed instructions will be included in the publication. The expected effect of the project is to improve the health and productivity of bee colonies. It results in a greater quantity and better quality of obtained honey.

More information: The Innovation Network in Agriculture and Rural Areas (SIR) and Project’s website