Project: Understanding and anticipating mechanisms of honeybee colony mortality with connected beehives

Acronym	BeeConnected (Reference Number: 862668)
Duration	01/02/2021 - 31/01/2024
Project Topic	BeeConnected aims at understanding mechanisms underlying winter mortality risk of honeybee colonies and to identify early-warning indicators that could help beekeepers limiting colony losses and related economic deficits. BeeConnected combines expertise in various scientific fields, including behavioural ecology, molecular biology, engineering, computer science, and modelling. In close collaboration with beekeepers, the project will carry out a large-scale monitoring of beehives along combined gradients in climate (continental, temperate and Mediterranean) and landscape complexity. The monitoring will combine traditional field observations with automated systems using multiple low-cost sensors to track the bee colony in real time and in three dimensions inside the beehives. Data will be associated with mechanistic models to assess the risk of colony mortality and to identify early-warning indicators. The final goal is double (i) to improve knowledge on the winter ecology of honeybees (the current hidden side of the species with direct interests for people, stakeholders and science) and, (ii) to derivate decision-support tools for beekeepers and farmers (to ensure adequate pollination services) to sustain their professional activities.
Website	visit project website
Network	ICT-AGRI-FOOD
Call	1st ICT-AGRI-FOOD Joint Cofund Call

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development	Coordinator	France
2	University of Würzburg	Partner	Germany
3	Hellenic Agricultural Organization DEMETER	Partner	Greece