Ontario's Honey Bee Health Initiative is receiving a funding increase of up to $1 million to help improve the resilience and competitiveness of beekeeping operations in the province.
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Additional funding will be provided by the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (Sustainable CAP). The Honey Bee Health Initiative was originally launched on September 15, 2023 with a budget of over $1.3 million. To date, 218 projects have been approved.
Additional funding will help more Ontario beekeepers better protect their colonies during the winter and protect them from invasive pests such as Varroa mites, which pose a serious threat to bee health, the federal government and province say. the government said in a statement.
The initiative is being implemented by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) and will directly contribute to the goals outlined in the Ontario Growth Strategy, OMAFRA said. The results of this effort will help support stability in the food supply chain.
“Ontario's beekeepers and the honey bee industry are a vital part of Ontario's food supply and food security,” Ian Grant, president of the Ontario Beekeepers Association (OBA), said in a statement.
Ontario beekeepers can apply for cost-sharing funding under this initiative starting June 3, 2024, and applications will continue to be accepted until funding is allocated. This initiative may fund up to 50 percent of the cost of approved projects. Beekeepers in Ontario with fewer than 50 colonies are eligible to receive up to a total of $4,500 for approved projects, and beekeepers with 50 or more colonies are eligible to receive up to $25,000.
Eligible applicants must provide proof of completion of an Ontario honey bee-related pest management course from an accredited institution.
