California State Beekeepers Association Competitive Funding Program
Fiscal Year (FY): 2024
Deadline to Apply: September 30
Maximum Funds to be Requested: $30,000
California State Beekeepers Association (CSBA), established in 1889, supports research that directly benefits beekeepers by improving beekeeping practices, and ensures sustainability and economic viability of the beekeeping industry in California. The CSBA competitive funding program accepts applications annually, for funding designed to cover a single year of highly focused research devoted to finding practical solutions to beekeeping problems. However, a funding extension will be granted if sufficient supporting evidence is provided. Details of the application process and reporting requirements are outlined below.
RESEARCH PRIORITIES
The CSBA primarily supports applied research that results in prompt practical solutions for beekeepers. However, basic research projects will also be considered if a clear explanation is provided on how the results would lead to practical solutions.
For FY 2024, funding will be provided for projects addressing the following priorities:
●Novel and viable options for varroa mite management. Management strategies should be effective in reducing the number of mites below a threshold damaging to the colony, be safe for the honey bees, should not contaminate hive products, and should be effective in a wide range of environmental conditions, low-cost, and not labor-intensive. Projects addressing new stock selection/development will also be considered.
●Improved Nutrition. Access to plentiful and diverse foraging opportunities or availability of an optimal artificial diet. Projects under this priority should address development of a complete diet for honey bees that would be economically feasible for beekeepers. Sensible solutions for improving access to natural forage will be considered.
●Pesticide Hazards. Understanding potential impacts of pesticide applications continues to be of interest to beekeepers, as well as development of solutions for minimizing pesticide risks.
●Novel and emerging threats. Beekeepers are aware of the risks associated with possible introduction of new invasive honey bee pests such as Tropilaelaps mites and welcome proposals addressing these new threats.
●Quality and health of reproductive castes continue to be an issue for beekeepers. Having a better understanding of what impacts queen and drone reproductive health and devising effective solutions is considered a high priority for CSBA.
●Management strategies for mitigating colony issues due to other stressors such as (Nosema)spp., Foulbrood disease, Chalkbrood, etc. These should be environmentally sound and safe for the bees, cost and labor effective, and suited for a wide range of environmental conditions.
●Additional projects will be considered as long as they directly propose practical and immediate solutions for beekeepers.
To read on visit: https://www.californiastatebeekeepers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CSBA_RFP_Final-2025.pdf
