Honey Production Research Articles

The Influence of Honey and Hydrogel Products Therapy on Healing Time in Diabetic Foot.

Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious and common complication of diabetes that often leads to significant morbidity and even amputation if not properly treated. Current treatment options, such as wound dressing, have limitations in promoting efficient healing. There is a need for effective interventions that can expedite the healing process and enhance the time required for complete healing. This prospective single-blinded randomized control trial studied diabetic mellitus type 2 patients with ulcer in their second-degree feet from February 2019 to February 2023 in the Diabetic Foot Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Al Qassim-KSA. This study involved 120 patients with a mean age of 59.64 ± 10.21. And 63% to 52.5% of them were males and 57% to 47.5% were females. The mean healing time was about 12.76 ± 4.08 days. Cases were divided into 4 equal groups with altered treatment procedures: honey alone, hydrogel alone, honey, and hydrogel combination alternately (3 intervention groups), and fucidin ointment or cream alone (1 control group), with 30 participants in each group. We revealed that the mean healing times for honey alone, hydrogel alone, and honey and hydrogel alternately were 12.20, 13.97, and 10.83 days, respectively. While it was 14.03 days in the control Fucidin ointment or cream [significantly P < .05 (P = .004)]. From the findings of the present study, we noticed that faster healing time among diabetic foot cases could be accomplished by treatment with a combination of honey and hydrogel alternately. Therefore, this therapy is effective in reducing the risk of diabetic foot ulcers.

Improving honey identification: Stable isotope ratios variability of mono and polyfloral honeys from the citrus growing area of Salto/Concordia and from Uruguayan coastal areas

Concordia in Argentina and Salto in Uruguay are two neighbouring regions famous for the production of a precious citrus honey, whose valorisation passes through the ability to guarantee its geographical origin. In this study the influence of the different botanical origins (monofloral and polyfloral) within the same region of origin on the different stable isotope ratios was evaluated. Moreover, the effectiveness of the stable isotope ratio parameters δ13Choney, δ13Cprotein, δ15Nprotein, δ34Sprotein, δ2Hprotein and δ18Oprotein to discriminate between honeys produced in the internal border regions between Argentina and Uruguay (namely, Concordia and Salto) and honeys sampled in the two different Uruguayan coastal regions (Canelones and Maldonado) was tested on 82 monofloral and polyfloral honey samples. The results show that the different stable isotope ratios, except that of nitrogen, are not significantly influenced by the botanical origin of the samples. The sulphur isotopic ratio of proteins and carbon of honey are the most significant parameters for discriminating the geographical origin of the honeys considered. Applied a Principal Component Analysis, the first two factors overall explain 63.5% of the total variance, while the Discriminant Analysis provided optimal discrimination between the three origins, reaching a minimum of 96.7% correct reclassification.

Phytochemical profiling of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) honey and investigation of compounds related to its pollen occurrence.

Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) is an important nectar source for honey production in some specific habitats as well as an important crop, so the definition of the features of this kind of honey is noteworthy. However, due to its rarity on the market, red raspberry honey is poorly characterized. The aim of this work was the phytochemical characterization of honey containing red raspberry from different geographical origins, through melissopalynological analyses concurrently with untargeted metabolomics achieved with different chromatographic techniques coupled to mass spectrometry: solid-phase micro-extraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography/Orbitrap mass spectrometry (HPLC-Orbitrap). Only 4 out of the 12 samples involved in the study contained raspberry pollen as dominant pollen, although these honeys did not group in the hierarchical cluster analysis nor in the classical multidimensional scaling analyses used for data evaluation. The first result was the detection of mislabelling in two samples, which contained raspberry pollen only as minor or important minor pollen. Of the 188 compounds identified by HPLC-Orbitrap and of the 260 identified by SPME-GC-MS, 87 and 31 compounds were present in all samples, respectively. The structurally related compounds nicotinaldehyde and nicotinamide, nicotinic acid and nicotinyl alcohol were present in 100% of the samples and correlated with R. idaeus pollen count (r > 0.60, Pearson's correlation analysis). This study reveals important aspects about the characterization of red raspberry honey and could give new insights on bee diet and preferences, since niacin compounds resulted interestingly to be related to the presence of red raspberry pollen. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Sustainable rural development supported by beekeeping in Fernades Pinheiro, Paraná

The Association of Beekeepers and Meliponiculturists of Fernandes Pinheiro was founded on May 1, 2007, with the initial objective of uniting family farmers and local beekeeping and meliponiculture enthusiasts through associations. In addition to obtaining income through honey production, AMFEPI was concerned with the dissemination of bee species, aiming to repopulate the region, due to existing concerns about the extinction of bees and the resulting environmental consequences. Therefore, the aim of this manuscript is to analyze the process of gradual change and incorporation of the Beekeeping activity in the rural areas of the municipality of Fernandes Pinheiro, Paraná. During a period of ten years, Association of Beekeepers and Meliponicultors of Fernandes Pinheiro (AMFEPI) acted on several fronts promoting the incorporation of this activity, thus diversifying the income of the associated families. The beekeeping activity is based on the three pillars of sustainability: economic because it generates income, social because it uses family labor, involving mainly young people and women in the activity, and ecological because it depends on the maintenance and conservation of natural forests. The Central-South region of Paraná, where the municipality of Fernandes Pinheiro is located, has a vocation for the development of beekeeping activities, where the market in bee products is expanding. Herein we demonstrate that through the incorporation of beekeeping activities on their properties, family farmers associated with AMFEPI were able to diversify their income and, consequently, obtain an improvement in their living conditions, generating profit and innovation with socio-environmental concerns, indicating that beekeeping, in addition to Being a sustainable agricultural activity can bring income to the producer.

Preliminary data on glyphosate, glufosinate, and metabolite contamination in Italian honey samples.

Glyphosate and glufosinate are among the most widely used pesticides in agriculture worldwide. Their extensive use leads to the presence of their residues on crops and in the surrounding environment. Beehives, bees, and apiculture products can represent potential sources for the accumulation of these substances and their metabolites, and the consequences for bee health, as well as the level of risk to human health from consuming contaminated food, are still unclear. Furthermore, information on the contamination levels of honey and other beehive products by these compounds remains poorly documented. This study is part of a broader research effort aimed at developing specific analytical methods for monitoring the level of these contaminants in bee products. The methodology employed enabled the acquisition of preliminary information concerning the levels of glyphosate and glufosinate contamination in honey samples obtained from various retailers in Italy to assess compliance with the limits established by Regulation 293/2013. The liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the 30 honey samples revealed quantifiable levels of glyphosate in eight samples, with contamination ranging from 5.4 to 138.5 ng/g. Notably, one sample of the wild-flower type showed residue levels nearly three times the maximum residue limit. Additionally, trace levels of glyphosate contamination were detected in another ten samples. It is noteworthy that glufosinate and its metabolites were not detected in any of the analyzed samples within the established method's detection ranges.

Geographical Origin Authentication-A Mandatory Step in the Efficient Involvement of Honey in Medical Treatment.

Nowadays, in people's perceptions, the return to roots in all aspects of life is an increasing temptation. This tendency has also been observed in the medical field, despite the availability of high-level medical services with many years of research, expertise, and trials. Equilibrium is found in the combination of the two tendencies through the inclusion of the scientific experience with the advantages and benefits provided by nature. It is well accepted that the nutritional and medicinal properties of honey are closely related to the botanical origin of the plants at the base of honey production. Despite this, people perceive honey as a natural and subsequently a simple product from a chemical point of view. In reality, honey is a very complex matrix containing more than 200 compounds having a high degree of compositional variability as function of its origin. Therefore, when discussing the nutritional and medicinal properties of honey, the importance of the geographical origin and its link to the honey's composition, due to potential emerging contaminants such as Rare Earth Elements (REEs), should also be considered. This work offers a critical view on the use of honey as a natural superfood, in a direct relationship with its botanical and geographical origin.

Evaluation for effectiveness of quality queen production training: a case study from Beekeeping Development Program, Chitwan, Nepal

ABSTRACT Beekeeping in Nepal has a rich history, and training programs have emerged as transformative agents in the industry’s development. This study assesses the effectiveness of quality queen production training offered by the Beekeeping Development Program in Chitwan, Nepal held in March/April 2023. The research design employed a quantitative approach to evaluate participants’ reactions, changes in knowledge, and skill levels before and after training. The statistical test involved a paired t-test. The study found that participants exhibited strong motivations for training, with a particular emphasis on increasing honey productivity and knowledge-sharing. Significant improvements in both knowledge and skill levels were observed after training, underlining the program’s positive impact. The study highlights the critical role of training programs in beekeeping development and suggests the potential for improved product quality, colony performance, and additional income. Overall, the findings emphasize the need to prioritize and expand similar training programs in the beekeeping industry.

System Mapping of the Production and Value Chain to Explore Beekeeping Potential in Southwest Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has a high potential for the production of honey and other apiary products due to its ideal agroecology. This potential is, however, not yet well utilized due to weak production and valorization systems. The study analyzed beekeeping systems and their honey value chain to detect the barriers and to explore ways to better exploit the existing potential. Descriptive statistics, a SWOT and PESTEL matrix, and system mapping were utilized for analysis. Ethiopian beekeeping is still dominated by traditional production systems, followed by modern and transitional systems, differing in types of beehives and the average amount of honey yield. The combined SWOT-PESTEL analysis revealed challenges like a limited supply and high cost of modern beehives, shortage of credit, absence of a honey marketing legal framework, pest and predator attacks, absconding, and uncontrolled application of agrochemicals. Opportunities include the globally increasing demand for honey, availability of good investment policy, conducive agroecology, and support from NGOs. The less productive techniques of smallholder beekeepers' crude honey production for local beverage making affected the good use of the potential and minimized its contribution to the local and national economy. On the contrary, strengthening private investors and cooperatives towards the production of fully and semi-processed honey impacted the utilization of the potential positively.

Beekeeping from the South

Abstract This article examines the role of the stingless bee Melipona beecheii in beekeeping practices in the Yucatán Peninsula, México, in the nineteenth century. Native to Yucatán, the Melipona bee is capable of producing large amounts of honey and has been bred by Maya communities for over three thousand years. In the twentieth century, the Melipona population declined with the implementation of modern apiculture, a system designed to maximize the production of honey and wax with the European native honeybee, Apis mellifera. Previous scholarship on beekeeping has labeled the development of modern apiculture and the systematic expansion of the European honeybee across the Americas as a success story. However, these studies do not consider the cultural, economic, and social transformations brought by the introduction of Apis mellifera in environments that were already rich in bee biodiversity. In order to provide some clues about the impact of—and responses to—modern apiculture, this article focuses on the moment before this process occurred in the Yucatán Peninsula, when Melipona was still environmentally, culturally, and economically significant. The author argues that, far from being an unchanging cultural practice doomed to be superseded by modern apiculture, Melipona beekeeping continued to adapt in sophisticated ways to a modernizing world. During a period of upheaval, extraction of natural resources, environmental exploitation, violence, and Indigenous peoples’ defense of their land, the Melipona continued to be the only domesticated bee species used for beeswax and honey extraction in the entire peninsula during the nineteenth century.

Thinking inside the box: Restoring the propolis envelope facilitates honey bee social immunity.

When wild honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera) nest in hollow tree cavities, they coat the rough cavity walls with a continuous layer of propolis, a substance comprised primarily of plant resins. Studies have shown that the resulting "propolis envelope" leads to both individual- and colony-level health benefits. Unfortunately, the smooth wooden boxes most commonly used in beekeeping do little to stimulate propolis collection. As a result, most managed bees live in hives that are propolis-poor. In this study, we assessed different surface texture treatments (rough wood boxes, boxes outfitted with propolis traps, and standard, smooth wood boxes) in terms of their ability to stimulate propolis collection, and we examined the effect of propolis on colony health, pathogen loads, immune gene expression, bacterial gene expression, survivorship, and honey production in both stationary and migratory beekeeping contexts. We found that rough wood boxes are the most effective box type for stimulating propolis deposition. Although the use of rough wood boxes did not improve colony survivorship overall, Melissococcus plutonius detections via gene expression were significantly lower in rough wood boxes, and viral loads for multiple viruses tended to decrease as propolis deposition increased. By the end of year one, honey bee populations in migratory rough box colonies were also significantly larger than those in migratory control colonies. The use of rough wood boxes did correspond with decreased honey production in year one migratory colonies but had no effect during year two. Finally, in both stationary and migratory operations, propolis deposition was correlated with a seasonal decrease and/or stabilization in the expression of multiple immune and bacterial genes, suggesting that propolis-rich environments contribute to hive homeostasis. These findings provide support for the practical implementation of rough box hives as a means to enhance propolis collection and colony health in multiple beekeeping contexts.

Nectar Characteristics and Honey Production Potential of Five Rapeseed Cultivars and Two Wildflower Species in South Korea

The growing beekeeping industry in South Korea has led to the establishment of new honey plant complexes. However, studies on honey production from each species are limited. This study aimed to assess the honey production potential of various Brassica napus cultivars and two wildflower species. The nectar characteristics of B. napus varied significantly among the cultivars. Absolute sugar concentrations differed among the cultivars, but sugar composition ratios were similar. In contrast, the amino acid content remained relatively uniform regarding percentage values, irrespective of the absolute concentrations. Estimations of honey potential production per hectare (kg/ha) resulted in the following ranking among cultivars: ‘JM7003’ (107.1) &gt; ‘YS’ (73.0) &gt; ‘JM7001’ (63.7) &gt; ‘TL’ (52.7) &gt; ‘TM’ (42.4). The nectar volume of Pseudolysimachion rotundum var. subintegrum and Leonurus japonicus increased during the flowering stage. P. rotundum var. subintegrum was sucrose-rich and L. japonicus was sucrose-dominant. Both species predominantly contained phenylalanine, P. rotundum var. subintegrum had glutamine as the second most abundant amino acid, and L. japonicus had tyrosine. The honey production potential was 152.4 kg/ha for P. rotundum var. subintegrum and 151.3 kg/ha for L. japonicus. These findings provide a basis for identifying food resources for pollinators and selecting plant species to establish honey plant complexes.

Determination of intestinal microbiome of Marchalina hellenica (Gennadius, 1883) (Hemiptera, Margarodidae)

Knowledge of the insect microbiota remains largely unexplored. The intestinal microbiome of Marchalina hellenica (Gennadius, 1883) (Hemiptera, Margarodidae) was determined in the current study. This species is the main source of pine honey production. A pool of 100 samples were selected, representing the distribution of M. hellenica in the province of Mugla, Turkey. API Staph tests were used to assess Gram-positive bacteria, while API 20NE and API 20E tests were used to assess Gram-negative bacteria. As a result, 33 Gram-negative and 15 Gram-positive isolates were obtained from samples collected from 44 different locations. Among Gram-positive, 14 out of 15 belonged to Staphylococcus spp. Among Gram-negative, 22 out of 33 belonged to Aeromonas spp. This is the first study intended to determine the intestinal microbiome of M. hellenica.

Can a Local Food Label Nudge Consumer Behavior? Implications of an Eye-tracking Study of Honey Products

AbstractThis study presents an eye-tracking experiment to investigate consumer responses toward local Texas honey. Honey adulteration news was used as a treatment along with product attributes, such as a certified Texas honey seal, price, organic, and product reviews. The eye-tracking technology was applied to examine the effect of attribute-non-attendance to measure the treatment effects more robustly. The results show that honey adulteration information increases consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for some quality-related attributes. The results also show that negative product reviews have a much larger reduction in the magnitude of WTP than the increase produced by positive product reviews.

QUALITY PARAMETERS OF BEE HONEY PRODUCED IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION

Bee honey remains one of the most popular domestic animal products exported to the European Union. Honey producers should ensure the safety of the product by providing evidence of its safety through traceability. This research has been carried out to assess the quality and harmlessness of domestic and imported honey based on the organoleptic, physicochemical parameters and toxic metals. The honey samples were analyzed at the Public Institution Republican Center for Veterinary Diagnosis in the Laboratory of Food Products Testing. The results of organoleptic analysis and the values of evaluated indices (mass fraction of water:16,4-17,8%; acidity index: 0,9-3,3 milliequivalents per 100 g of honey; hydroxymethylfurfural content: 4,7-25,8%; sucrose: 1,3-2,0%; toxic elements; lead: &lt; 0,02 mg/kg) revealed that the investigated domestic and imported honey samples meet the established standards and are recommended for human consumption. Mierea de albine rămâne a fi un produs destul de solicitat şi unul din produsele de origine animalieră din țară care este exportat în Uniunea Europeană. Producătorii trebuie să asigure inofensivitatea produsului, prezentând dovezi privind siguranţa alimentului prin trasabilitatea acestuia. Cercetările au fost efectuate cu scopul aprecierii calității și inofensivității mierii de albine autohtone și de import în baza indicilor organoleptici, fizico-chimici și a metalelor toxice. Mostrele de miere au fost analizate la Instituția Publică Centrul Republican de Diagnostic Veterinar în Laboratorul de Încercări ale Produselor Alimentare. Rezultatele analizei organoleptice și valorile indicilor evaluați (fracția masică de umiditate: 16,4-17,8%; indicele acidității: 0,9-3,3 miliechivalenți la 100 g de miere; conținutul de hidroximetilfurfural: 4,7-25,8%; zaharoză: 1,3-2,0%; plumb: &lt; 0,02 mg/kg) au demonstrat, că mierea din Republica Moldova și de import studiată corespunde normelor stabilite și se recomandă pentru consumul uman.

Assessment of Changes in Agroclimatic Resources of the Republic of Bashkortostan (Russia) under the Context of Global Warming

The process of climate warming significantly affects agroclimatic resources and agricultural production. We study the agroclimatic resources and their variability on the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan (Russia). The Bashkortostan has a high agricultural potential and holds a leading position in the country in the production of grain crops, potatoes, milk, and honey. Currently, no detailed studies have been conducted for this area to assess the effects of global climate change on agro-climatic resources. World experience shows such research becomes strategically important for regions with powerful agricultural production. We used the sums of average daily air temperatures above 0 and 10 °C, the G.T. Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficient, and the Ped aridity (humidification) index as agroclimatic indicators. We used data of long-term meteorological observations of 30 meteorological stations for the period of 1961–2020. We revealed the long-term dynamics of the agroclimatic indicators and the spatial and temporal regularities in their distribution on the territory of Bashkortostan. There is a steady increase in the sums of average daily air temperatures above 0 and 10 °C. Against this background, aridity increases, which is especially manifested in the southern parts of the Republic of Bashkortostan. We assessed the impact of agroclimatic indicators on the main types of agricultural crops in the republic. We revealed that the greatest positive impact on the yield of oilseeds, cereals, and industrial crops is made by precipitation at the beginning (r = 0.50, r = 0.44, and r = 0.52, respectively) and in the middle of the growing season (r = 0.55, r = 0.76, and r = 0.51, respectively). Temperature and precipitation during the growing season have a complex effect on cereals. This is proven by correlations with HCS and the Ped index (r = 0.45 and r = −0.56, respectively). Aridity at the beginning of the growing season affects the yield of oilseeds and potatoes. This is confirmed by correlations with the Ped index (r = −0.49 and r = −0.52, respectively). In general, the aridity of the growing season has a significant impact on the yield of cereals (r = −0.57). Negative relationships have been found between the air temperature growing season and the yield of potatoes (r = −0.50) and cereals (r = −0.53). The results of the study were compared with data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service database. We identified climate trends under RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0, and RCP 8.5 scenarios. These scenarios should be taken into account when developing plans for the adaptation of agriculture in the Republic of Bashkortostan to changes in the regional climate. Maximum decrease in precipitation is established for the RCP 6.0 scenario. This can have an extremely negative impact on crop yields. This problem is especially relevant for the southern part of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The information presented in the study will allow for a more effective adaptation of the agricultural sector to current and future climate changes.

Pemberdayaan dan Strategi Marketing Petani Lebah Madu

Kutosari Village is known for its honey, as many of its residents are honey farmers. However, honey farmers in Kutosari Village face various challenges in marketing their products. This is due to the way of selling honey that only sells bottled products without any other innovations. The purpose of this empowerment is to increase honey sales of Kutosari village honey farmers through appropriate marketing strategies. This empowerment method begins with problem identification, preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The results of this activity are making honey processed innovations such as honey candy, probiotic honey syrup and honey jam, selling bee food source seeds, making attractive packaging such as honey bouquet, honey hampers and more creative honey stickers, using and managing social media attractively and creatively. With the implementation of the program by the PPK Ormawa KSR team, it is hoped that by improving effective marketing strategies, honey bee farmers in Kutosari Village can increase their income and introduce more innovative honey products from their village to a wider market.

Sensitive fluorescence detection based on dimeric G-quadruplex combined with enzyme-assisted solid-phase microextraction of streptomycin in honey

Streptomycin (STR), an aminoglycoside antibiotic with the potential to persist in honey and other food products, may induce allergy, toxicity and antibiotic resistance in humans. In this study, we developed a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) biosensor based on a quartz rod that was modified with double-stranded DNA structures consisting of partially complementary G-rich base DNA strand and STR aptamer. The STR isolated by SPME initially bound to the aptamer. Then the remaining double-stranded DNA structures were cleaved by the Nt.BstNBI enzyme, resulting in release of G-quadruplex dimers. The latter formed a complex with thioflain T fluorescent dye, resulting in an amplified fluorescence response. The method exhibited high sensitivity (a limit of detection of 10.84 pM), wide linear range (0.05 nM ∼ 500 nM (with determination coefficient > 0.99)), and simple operation, making it suitable and convenient for STR detection. Successful STR determination in genuine honey samples was demonstrated.

Biochemical characterization of Euphorbia resinifera floral cyathia

Euphorbia resinifera O. Berg is a plant endemic to the Northern and Central regions of Morocco known since the ancient Roman and Greek times for secreting a poisonous latex containing resiniferatoxin. However, E. resinifera pseudo-inflorescences called cyathia are devoid of laticifers and, therefore, do not secrete latex. Instead, they exudate nectar that local honey bees collect and craft into honey. Honey and cyathium water extracts find a broad range of applications in the traditional medicine of Northern Africa as ointments and water decoctions. Moreover, E. resinifera monofloral honey has received the Protected Geographic Indication certification for its outstanding qualities. Given the relevance of E. resinifera cyathia for bee nutrition, honey production, and the health benefit of cyathium-derived products, this study aimed to screen metabolites synthesized and accumulated in its pseudo-inflorescences. Our analyses revealed that E. resinifera cyathia accumulate primary metabolites in considerable abundance, including hexoses, amino acids and vitamins that honey bees may collect from nectar and craft into honey. Cyathia also synthesize volatile organic compounds of the class of benzenoids and terpenes, which are emitted by flowers pollinated by honey bees and bumblebees. Many specialized metabolites, including carotenoids, flavonoids, and polyamines, were also detected, which, while protecting the reproductive organs against abiotic stresses, also confer antioxidant properties to water decoctions. In conclusion, our analyses revealed that E. resinifera cyathia are a great source of antioxidant molecules and a good food source for the local foraging honeybees, revealing the central role of the flowers from this species in mediating interactions with local pollinators and the conferral of medicinal properties to plant extracts.

Comparison of some biological activities of propolis and bee bread samples obtained from Apis mellifera Anatoliaca and its Muğla and Efe ecotypes

Honey and other bee products have been extensively researched in recent years due to the demand for natural products with nutritional and therapeutic qualities, as they contain high levels of biologically active compounds and valuable nutrients. In this study, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of bee bread and propolis samples formed after colony development by bees of different races and ecotypes accepted to core colonies in the same location were evaluated. Total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant content values were the the highest in propolis samples, especially in propolis from Apis mellifera anatoliaca. Values of this type gave the most effective results in almost all of the other tests performed, such as DPPH free radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation inhibition, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. In addition, the amount of phenolics detected in the phenolic component analysis of this species is higher. It was surprising that propolis samples obtained from Efe and Muğla ecotypes showed higher values, respectively, in the test for chelating activity with Fe. The fact that the values calculated for the bee breads were lower in all cases compared to the propolis samples, the highest values were calculated for the bee bread harvested from the efe ecotype, in contrast to the propolis ecotypes. None of the tested bee breads showed antimicrobial activity on selected pathogenic bacteria. Thus, with this study, it was evaluated how the differences arising from both race and ecotype and the type of bee product reflected on biological activities.

Understanding how environmental degradation, microclimate, and management shape honey production across different spatial scales.

Although the abundance, survival, and pollination performance of honeybees are sensitive to changes in habitat and climate conditions, the processes by which these effects are transmitted to honey production and interact with beekeeping management are not completely understood. Climate change, habitat degradation, and beekeeping management affect honey yields, and may also interact among themselves resulting in indirect effects across spatial scales. We conducted a 2-year, multi-scale study on Chiloe Island (northern Patagonia), where we evaluated the most relevant environmental and management drivers of honey produced by stationary beekeepers. We found that the effects of microclimate, habitat, and management variables changed with the spatial scale. Among the environmental variables, minimum temperature, and cover of the invasive shrub, gorse (Ulex europaeus) had the strongest detrimental impacts on honey production at spatial scales finer than 4km. Specialized beekeepers who adopted conventional beekeeping and had more mother colonies were more productive. Mean and minimum temperatures interacted with the percentage of mother colonies, urban cover, and beekeeping income. The gorse cover increased by the combination of high temperatures and the expansion of urban lands, while landscape attributes, such as Eucalyptus plantation cover, influenced beekeeping management. Results suggest that higher temperatures change the available forage or cause thermal stress to honeybees, while invasive shrubs are indicators of degraded habitats. Climate change and habitat degradation are two interrelated environmental phenomena whose effects on beekeeping can be mitigated through adaptive management and habitat restoration.