HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0364.007 2018-2020 OVUM
Y CLLR COMM.60
From: Danielle Downev G#UN T Y 0 F 14 AWA 111
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in support of Resolution 219-19 e,
Date: Saturday,August 03,2019 12:48:59 PM Luta a
This letter is in support of Resolution 219-19, to form a stakeholder working group for 4
Hawaii's beekeepers.
As a former beekeeper and regulator in Hawaii's State Apiary Program, I am very glad to see
this Resolution. As we continue to confirm myriad pressures and stressors which affect honey
bee health, it has never been harder to keep bees healthy. Hawaii's bees play a critical role in
our food chain,pollinating crops in Hawaii but also providing queens to the beekeepers in the
USA and Canada, they need queens from Hawaii to rebuild after annual losses near 40%. This
year losses were higher than any recorded in the last 14 years, and as pressures and demand
increase, seeking solutions for the problems bees and beekeepers face is of the utmost
relevance. Beekeepers struggle to manage the devastating Varroa mites, small hive beetles
and the complex impact of pathogens the mites vector and their impact on bees' immunity,
etc. In addition to this, the regulations and support from State, County and
Municipal Departments addressing agriculture are important factors in beekeeping
success. Inviting beekeepers to revisit Hawaii's regulations, to update and support them in the
service of managing these pollinators will be very impactful to help our industry, for Hawaii
and also for those who rely on successful beekeeping in Hawaii for queens and pollinated
crops.
Project Apis m. (PAm) is the go-to organization at the interface of honeybees and pollinated
crops. We have infused over$8 million into bee research since our inception in 2006 to
provide growers with healthier bees resulting in better pollination and crop yields. We
are enthusiastic about efforts like the bee breeding project which is ongoing in Hawaii, which
aims to produce Varroa resistant queen bees-- this is a long-term stock
improvement approach to solve the single largest threat to honey bees worldwide: Varroa
mites. This will serve both beekeepers and growers, who must be reliable partners for success.
Keeping the regulations and awareness current to support beekeeping in Hawaii is in the
interests of this project, and all those who depend on the crops produced in Hawaii. Managing
bee health is an issue at the front of our work-, and tools to understand and mitigate bee health
issues are of great interest to PAm, beekeepers, and growers. We are happy to support this
effort however we can, and we look forward to seeing the stakeholder group in action.
Sincerely,
Danielle Downey
Danielle Downey
Executive Director
www.projectapism.orZ
Comm. NR4',
Ref. To:
Ref. Dote AUG 0 5 2019