The PoshBee project was presented at the 2021 edition of the EU Pollinator Week which took place online between 27-30 September. Project partner Dr. Dalel Askri of BioPark Archamps participated in the European Research Projects: Monitoring Pollinators and Their Stressors session, which focused on the overview of some of the EU research projects gathering data of the status of EU pollinators or the stressing factors that can affect them, such as environmental pollutants, pathogens, landscape, weather, etc.

In her talk, Dalel presented the PoshBee research on creating the Bee Health Card, the mass spectrometry analysis and MALDI BeeTyping processes applied, and the expected results from the tools in terms of approving bee health monitoring and sustainability of both wild, and managed pollinators. She also elaborated on the air sampling methods performed within PoshBee research, and introduced the atmospheric sampler prototypes. "As part of the pan-European characterisation of managed and wild bees’ atmosphere, 88 samplers were shipped to beekeepers and stakeholders in different countries from April to August 2021", Dalel elaborated.

Dalel Askri presenting the Bee Health Card

The EU Pollinator Week is an event that focuses on the importance of pollinators for healthy ecosystems, wellbeing, and culture. In 2021, it was an online event with the theme "A New Deal for Pollinators". The 2021 EU Pollinator Week was organised by Members of the European Parliament under the chairmanship of Martin Hojsík and BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination, in partnership with the European Commission, the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The event brought together all relevant stakeholders, including public authorities, non-governmental organisations, scientists, beekeepers, farmers, business organisations, and citizens. Together, the participants discussed ideas to promote public policies and stakeholder actions that protect healthy populations of wild and managed pollinators, and the invaluable benefits they provide to society.

Read more about the EU Pollinator Week here.

Check out the European research projects panel and Dalel’s presentation here.