Research & Innovation Latest (EC funded) research projects on bees and pollinators Béla ATZÉL, PhD planning and programming officer Agri-Food Chain Bela.ATZEL @ ec.europa.eu European Commission Directorate-General for Research & Innovation
Dec 14, 2015
Research &
Innovation
Latest (EC funded) research projects on bees and pollinators
Béla ATZÉL, PhDplanning and programming officer
Agri-Food [email protected]
European CommissionDirectorate-General for Research & Innovation
Research &
Innovation
Structure of the presentation
• 1) Completed projects
• 2) On-going projects
• 3) Future perspectives
Research &
Innovation
1) Completed projects
FP6• BRAVE - Bee research and virology in Europe - identifying the
research needs for protecting European agriculture and ecosystems against viral diseases (2005) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/75718_en.html
• ALARM - Assessing LArge-scale environmental Risks with tested Methods (2004-2009) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/74303_en.html
• BEE SHOP - Bees in Europe and Sustainable Honey Production (2006-2009) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/78605_en.html
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FP7• BEE DOC - Bees in Europe and the decline of honeybee colonies
(2010-2013) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/94004_en.html
• CLEANHIVE - Detecting the Pathogen that Threatens European Honey Bees (2008-2012) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/94165_en.html
• APIFRESH - Developing European standards for bee pollen and royal jelly: quality, safety and authenticity (2010-2013) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/94698_en.html
Research &
Innovation
2) On-going EC funded research
5 projects, funded by FP7 instruments:
• FP7-KBBE - FP7 Specific Programme 'Cooperation' - Research Theme: 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology'
• FP7-ENVIRONMENT - FP7 Specific Programme 'Cooperation'- Research Theme: 'Environment (including climate change)'
• FP7-SME - FP7 - Research theme: Research for the benefit of SMEs
• FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific Programme 'Ideas' implementing the Seventh Framework Programme
Total cost: EUR 25.603.317EU contribution: EUR 20.360.667
Research &
Innovation
Inventory of projects
• SMARTBEES – Sustainable Management of Resilient Bee populations (2014-2018)
• AMIGA - Assessing and Monitoring the Impacts of Genetically modified plants on Agro-ecosystems (2011-2015)
• STEP – Status and Trends of European Pollinators (2010-2015)
• SWARMONITOR - development of a tool for effective diagnostic monitoring of honey bee colonies (2012-2015)
• SPACERADARPOLLINATOR - Space use by bees– radar tracking of spatial movement patterns of key pollinators (2014-2019)
Research &
Innovation
SMARTBEES Sustainable Management of Resilient Bee populations (2014-2018)
Total cost:EUR 7 762 261
EU contribution:EUR 5 998 866
Coordinated in:Germany
Subprogramme:KBBE.2013.1.3-02 - Sustainable apiculture and conservation of honey bee genetic diversityCall for proposal: FP7-KBBE-2013-7-single-stage• Funding scheme:CP-TP - Collaborative Project targeted to a special group (such as SMEs)
Project reference: 613960
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/192071_en.html
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Innovation
• Objectives
• to identify crucial facets of honeybee resistance to colony losses, Varroa and viruses;
• to characterise the genetic background of the resistance mechanisms in honeybees;
• to develop breeding strategies to increase the frequencies of these valuable traits in local honeybee populations;
• to promote multiple local breeding efforts, to conserve local resilient populations and will develop molecular tools for describing and safeguarding future populations;
• to protect European natural honeybee heritage.
Research &
Innovation
AMIGA Assessing and Monitoring the Impacts of Genetically modified plants on Agro-ecosystems (2011-2015)
Total cost:EUR 7 779 852
EU contribution:EUR 5 997 963
Coordinated in:Italy
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/101406_en.htmlhttp://www.amigaproject.eu/
Subprogramme:KBBE.2011.3.5-01 - GM crops in the EU - systematically assessing environmental and economic impacts
Call for proposal: FP7-KBBE-2011-5
Funding scheme:CP-IP - Large-scale integrating project
Project reference: 289706
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Innovation
Objectives• providing baseline data on biodiversity in agro-ecosystems in the
EU;
• defining lists of suitable bioindicators for various European regions;
• improving knowledge on potential long term environmental effects of genetically modified plants (GMPs);
• testing the efficacy of the EFSA Guidance Document (GD) for the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of GMPs;
• exploring new strategies for post market monitoring;
• estimating the compatibility of GMPs with the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles implemented in the EU;
• providing a systematic analysis of economical aspects of GMPs cultivation in the EU; and
• setting a training and communication plan addressing public concerns about GMPs.
Research &
Innovation
STEPStatus and Trends of European Pollinators(2010-2015)
Total cost:EUR 4 787 289
EU contribution:EUR 3 499 994
Coordinated in:United Kingdom
Subprogramme:ENV.2009.2.1.4.1 - Assess the pan-European status of pollinators Call for proposal: FP7-ENV-2009-1 Funding scheme:CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/93949_en.html
http://www.step-project.net/
Project reference: 244090
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Objectives• to document the status and trends of pollinators (managed
honeybees, wild bees and hoverflies) and animal-pollinated plant populations;
• to determine and analyse the multiple pressures that are driving changes in pollinators and animal-pollinated plants;
• to assess the impact of changes ;
• to evaluate and synthesise strategies to mitigate the impacts;
• to analyse and improve the interface between the scientific knowledge base on pollinator change assessment and policy instruments to reduce pollinator / pollination loss and mitigate its effects;
• to develop communication and educational links with a wide range of stakeholders and the general public.
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Innovation
SWARMONITOR Development of a tool for effective diagnostic monitoring of honey bee colonies (2012-2015)
• Total cost:• EUR 1 834 993
• EU contribution:• EUR 1 424 922
• Coordinated in:• United Kingdom
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/105847_en.html www.swarmonitor.com
• Subprogramme:• SME-2012-2 - Research for SME associations
• Call for proposal: • FP7-SME-2012
• Funding scheme:• BSG-SME-AG - Research for SME
associations/groupings
Project reference: 315146
Research &
Innovation
Objectives
• to develop the first monitoring tool that would detect changes in honey bee activity within the beehive for the effective management of bees.
• the tool to allow beekeepers to remotely diagnose colony status without the invasive opening of hives for physical inspection.
• to increase the efficiency of beekeeping allowing small and hobby beekeepers to more closely manage their colonies and predict behaviour that requires intervention remotely.
• to allow commercial beekeepers to keep more hives over greater geographical distances so increasing their efficiency and profitability.
Research &
Innovation
SPACERADARPOLLINATORSpace use by bees– radar tracking of spatial movement patterns of key pollinators(2014-2019)
Total cost:EUR 3 438 922
EU contribution:EUR 3 438 922
Coordinated in:United Kingdom
Subprogramme:ERC-AG-LS8 - ERC Advanced Grant - Evolutionary, population and environmental biology
Call for proposal: ERC-2013-ADG
Funding scheme:ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant
Project reference: 339347Funded under: FP7-IDEAS-ERC
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/185402_en.html
Research &
Innovation
Objectives• transponder miniaturisation, to develop radar technology to
allow coverage of areas of up to 10km2 and the exploration of the 3rd dimension of insect flight;
• tracking bees in three dimensions:
• to identify the rules of bee movements at the landscape scale,
• to monitor natural resource exploration and exploitation
• to quantify individual differences in space use.
• to monitor competitive interactions as well as the possibility of social learning in space use.
• to identify spatial movement strategies of queens and males;
• to increase the understanding of pollinator space use, but also for the conservation, management, and the understanding of mating patterns in the plants they pollinate.
Research &
Innovation
3) Future perspectives• FP7 is replcaced by Horizon 2020
• Increase in budget, coupling research to innovation, challenge-based approach, new approach to Work Programme and Calls…
• THERE IS ROOM for project proposals on bees and pollination
• Excellent Science
• European Research Council (ERC)
• Industrial leadership
• Innovation in SMEs
• Societal Challenges
• SC2: Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry…
• SC5: Climate Action, Environment, Research Efficiency…