Chalkbrood is a fungal (mycotic) disease of honeybee
larvae caused by Ascosphaera apis (A. apis) with no effective
treatment available. During the ‘90’s the
Kimron Veterinary Institute, the Tierhygienisches Institute
and the Bee Keeping Centre at Chiang Mai collaborated
in a project to attempt the control of A. apis infestation
by biological methods.
Vita (Europe) Limited has been collaborating further
on this project, extending the field trials and working
towards bringing a product to market.
Much effort is being put into research into pheromones
in Institutes and Universities around the world.
Vita (Europe) Limited have been collaborating with
a major University for many years to assist in the development
of a pheromone blend, which suppresses varroa mite populations.
This is a joint project between Vita (Europe) Ltd, the
National Bee Unit of the Central Science Laboratory,
York and Cardiff University with the collaboration of
the British Bee Keepers Association and British Bee Farmers’ Association
who have both provided funding and without whose support
the project would not have been possible.
Vita (Europe) Limited is a specialist company in Research & Development
of new products for honeybee health and we currently
have five projects underway. It was particularly rewarding
to receive, despite stiff competition, National awards
for two of these projects. These awards were made by
the British Government - via DEFRA and Dti respectively — and
are more than a pat on the back. They include a contribution
to research funding which provides some relief towards
the escalating costs of development of veterinary pharmaceutical
products.
