SAFEGUARDING HONEYBEES AND THEIR POLLINATION SERVICES IS PIVOTAL FOR HUMAN FOOD PRODUCTION AND ECOSSYSTEM STABILITY. AVOIDING FURTHER UNSUSTAINABLE LOSSES OF HONEYBEES AS REPORTED OVER THE PAST DECADES DEPENDS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND INOVATIVE TOOLS TO MONITOR AND MANAGE BEE HEALTH IN THE FUTURE. SUCH ACTIVITIES REQUIRE AN EFFICIENT RESEARCH - INDUSTRY NEXUS, WHERE BEEKEEPERS ARE NOT ONLY KEPT UP TO DATE OF ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES BUT ARE ALSO ABLE TO GET INVOLVED IN COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE FORMED A CALIFORNIA WIDE NETWORK OF RESEARCHERS AND BEEKEEPERS AND IDENTIFIED 16 DIFFERENT PROJECTS TO DEVELOP NEW TOOLS FOR BETTER BEE HEALTH MANAGEMENT. HERE WE REQUEST FUNDING TO ORGANISE A CONFERENCE WITH THE FOLLOWING AIMS: 1. CONNECT BEEKEEPERS AND RESEARCHERS FOR AN UPDATE OF RECENTLY FUNDED R&D ACTIVITIES. 2. FORM WORKING GROUPS ON PROPOSED RESEARCH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS A BREEDING PROGRAM, A BEEKEEPING SCHOOL, NOVEL MEDICATION DEVELOPMENT ABD TO COORDINATE FUTURE COLLABOARTIVE ACTIVITIES BEYOND THE CONFERENCE. 3. IDENTIFY REMAINING GAPS OF KNOWLEDGE TO GUIDE FUTURE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. 4. SETTING UP OF A CONTINOUS AND UP TO DATE COMMUICATION PLATFORM BETWEEN BEEKEEPERS AND INDUSTRY. BASED ON OUR OBJECTIVES, WE EXPECT THIS MEETING TO HAVE LONG LASTING EFFECTS IN MAXIMIZING THE EFFICIENCY OF OUR COLLABORATIVE NETWORK AND COMMUNICATION. FINALLY, OUR NOVEL BEE HEALTH MANAGEMENT TOOLS WILL NOT ONLY INCREASE THE PROFITABILITY OF BEEKEEPING WITH THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WILL ALSO IMPACT POLLINATION COSTS OF CROPS AND AFFORDABLE FOOD PRICES WELL BEYOND CALIFORNIAS BORDERS

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