A rapid and specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification-lateral flow dipstick (LAMP-LFD) method for detecting Melissococcus plutonius, the causal agent of European foulbrood in honeybees.

Infestations of Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman can influence many aspects of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony performance. Treatment thresholds have typically focused on overwintering colony survival, but impacts on colony productivity during the spring and summer, including honey production, also require consideration. We analyzed 320 colonies across 2 New Zealand sites, measuring Varroa densities and colony strength from spring to harvest, and relating patterns of mite growth to honey yield. Mite populations grew in an exponential fashion during the spring-to-honey-yield period of 24 wks. Spring mite density strongly predicted seasonal honey yield losses. Each additional mite/100 bees was predicted to reduce yield by ∼2.29 kg. Colonies with >3 mites/100 bees produced ∼40% less honey. Colony strength also influenced honey production. More brood frames significantly increased yield, while increasing numbers of adult bee frames showed a nonsignificant positive trend. Honey production was highly variable. After controlling for apiary effects, spring mite density explained only 4.7% of yield variation, indicating multiple drivers and influences on honey production. Nevertheless, early-season mite infestation rates are actionable predictors of honey yield. To avoid yield losses, we suggest keeping spring Varroa densities below 3 mites/100 bees and a spring action threshold of 2 mites/100 bees, consistent with Canadian research on honey yield losses.

Long-term behaviour of 137Cs in archived honey samples from a lowland mosaic landscape and a forest-influenced locality in southern Slovakia (1957-2001).

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive contaminants that have been detected throughout the food chain. Their presence raises concerns in foods intended for health-related purposes, as these products are often consumed by vulnerable populations such as infants, older adults, and patients requiring clinical nutrition support. These groups may be more susceptible to contaminant exposure and may rely heavily on specialized foods. Therefore, understanding the occurrence and potential risks of MPs in such products is important. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the presence, sources, and health implications of plastic particles in several categories of health-oriented foods, including dietary supplements, medicinal herbs, plant-based beverages, honey, infant formulas, and clinical nutrition products, including enteral and parenteral formulations. Microplastics have been reported across these matrices. Fibers and fragments dominate, and common polymers include polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and poly(ethylene terephthalate). These particles can originate from polluted water, soil, and air, as well as from production processes, packaging wear, and clinical delivery systems. Current evidence suggests that improving methodological consistency and expanding targeted toxicological research relevant to vulnerable populations will be crucial for strengthening risk assessment.

Improvement of probiotic tolerance to hyperosmotic environments by whey protein-citrus pectin conjugate: effect on the physicochemical, structural, survival of probiotic microencapsulation.

Neonicotinoids (NEOs) are widely used insecticides in agriculture and household pest control and have raised concerns due to their potential adverse effects on pollinator populations. NEOs can be transferred to bees during pollination and subsequently accumulate in honey, making their presence in honey of particular concern, especially in China, the world's largest honey producer. In this study, NEO levels were investigated in 86 honey samples collected from different regions of China. Among the six target NEOs, dinotefuran (DIN) showed the highest detection frequency (95.35%), while clothianidin (CLO) exhibited the highest mean concentration (7.010 μg/kg). For neonicotinoid metabolites (mNEOs), 1-methyl-3-(tetrahydro-3-furylmethyl) guanidine (DIN-G) had the highest detection rate (82.56%), and 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CNA) showed the highest average concentration (6.640 μg/kg). Regional analysis revealed significantly higher NEO contamination in honey from southern China compared with other regions. In addition, lychee honey and polyfloral honey contained higher NEO residue levels than other honey types. Health risk assessment based on hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) indicated that dietary exposure to NEOs through honey consumption is unlikely to pose significant health risks to consumers. This study compared NEOs residues in honey from different regions and honey types and found significantly higher NEOs concentrations in honey from southern China. Health risk assessment indicated that dietary exposure to NEOs through honey consumption is unlikely to pose significant adverse effects on human health, providing a scientific basis for market regulation and future research. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

A cross‐sectional study design was conducted across agroecological zones in East Shewa and West Arsi Zones of Oromia, Ethiopia, from September 2020 to November 2021 to identify the types, prevalence, and potential risk factors associated with honeybee diseases, pests, and predators. Purposive sampling involved interviewing 115 households and analyzing 80 samples via laboratory diagnosis. Data were coded and stored in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and then analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, a rank index formula, and chi‐square (χ2) tests in SPSS Version 16. The results revealed that ants were the most common pests observed in honeybee colonies (27.4%), followed by wax moths (21.9%), honey badgers (14.4%), bee‐eater birds (10.8%), small hive beetles (8.9%), lizards (6.6%), spiders (4.9%), death’s head hawkmoths (3.2%), and wasps (1.6%). Annual absconding rates reached 60.4% in Dodola, 64.5% in Wando, 70.8% in Adami Tulu, and 84% in Dugda. Laboratory analyses confirmed high positivity for amoebiasis (82.5%), varroosis (83.8%), nosemosis (43.8%), small hive beetles (33.8%), and bee lice (33.8%), with no detections of American foulbrood, European foulbrood, chalkbrood, stonebrood, and tracheal mites. These threats severely impact honey production, emphasizing the need for beekeeper vigilance through effective control measures and seasonal colony management to bolster hive resilience.

The VLUTE-1 honey concentrator, designed and manufactured by the research team of Vinh Long University of Technology Education, Vietnam, is used to concentrate honey and some solutions with similar physical and chemical properties. This type of concentrator has the advantage of using a liquid conduction ring and an ultrasonic transmitter to increase the ability to evaporate water and break up sugar crystallization in honey, contributing to improving the quality of honey products during the concentration process. Applying the multi-factor experimental research method to study the simultaneous influence of concentration temperature, liquid conduction ring height, and ultrasonic emission time on the total score of honey quality. The experimental research results have determined the optimal value of the input factors when the optimal value of the total score of honey quality reaches its extreme. The above research results are an important basis for completing the design and manufacturing of concentrator sizes with different capacities suitable for the scale of each production facility.

The skin, the body's largest and most complex organ, is the body's first line of defense against germs and harmful substances. In recent years, skin diseases that can affect people of all ages and backgrounds have become a common health problem worldwide. Researchers have been very interested in natural products over the past ten years because they have health benefits and few side effects. Honey bee products have been used since ancient times to prevent and/or treat several diseases. Royal jelly, a significant superfood, is produced by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of young worker honey bees. RJ contains many bioactive molecules (10-HDA, MRJPs, royalicin, royalactin, etc.) and unique essential components, including carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Many studies show that RJ and its biologically active components exhibit pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, neuroprotective, and antiallergic properties. This study emphasizes the dermatological effects of RJ, clarifies its biological properties, and highlights its potential advantages in formulating new topical products for cosmetic and dermatological applications.

Traceability systems are increasingly central to ensure food safety, quality, biosecurity, and sustainability in agrifood supply chains. Despite advances in digital technologies, adoption and effective implementation remain uneven, with many producers still relying on paper-based systems. This study examines the motivations and conditions that enable or constrain the participation in traceability systems by Australian red meat and honey producers using the Digital Maturity Framework (DMF) as a diagnostic lens. Drawing on seven focus groups and five individual interviews involving a total of 73 producers and supply chain stakeholders from both sectors, the study investigates how value perceptions, technology and infrastructure, data analytics and management, capability, and data governance, influence producers’ engagement with traceability systems. Our findings indicate that while regulatory pressure and market opportunities incentivise adoption, several challenges persist, including high costs, limited digital skills, data sharing concerns, and sector-specific constraints. The red meat sector demonstrates higher digital maturity, driven largely by compliance mandates and an established regulatory system. In contrast, the honey bee sector exhibits more fragmented traceability adoption, challenged by the predominance of small-scale producers and limited trust in data sharing mechanisms. The comparison between two sectors reveals the influence of sectoral context. In particular, the regulatory frameworks and supply chain coordination play a relevant role in the adoption of traceability technologies. Overall, this research reveals the need for tailored policy and industry support, including regulatory harmonisation, improved data interoperability, digital infrastructure, and capacity-building initiatives to enable more consistent and broader traceability implementation across agrifood systems.

Honey production plays a significant role in uplifting the rural poor in many developing countries. This explains the existence of extensive research into this sector. Despite the current evidence base, questions related to the governance of honey production with emphasis on the interests of different actor typologies and the power elements they employ remain relatively less understood in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon. As a contribution towards closing the current research gap, this study employs the Actor Centred Power (ACP) analytical lens to: (a) map honey production actor typologies and their interests, and (b) examine the power elements employed by actors in honey production. To generate this qualitative evidence, data was obtained through key informant interviews ( n = 30), expert interviews ( n = 7) and focus group discussions ( n = 8) in three communities of the Western Highlands. The directed content analysis, thematic analysis and narratives led to the following conclusions: Firstly, endogenous and exogenous actor typologies significantly manifest social interests linked to honey production. Secondly, while endogenous actors further manifest ecological interests, exogenous actors' interests were skewed towards the economic domain. Thirdly, in the pursuit of honey production, both exogenous and endogenous actors significantly employ (dis)incentives and dominant information as power elements. The evidence derived from honey production challenge the mainstream ACP debate that exogenous actors draw more from coercion. It reveals a shift towards (dis)incentives and dominant information, signaling a growing understanding between actors and institutions in the exogenous and endogenous domains. Additionally, while power exercise facilitates the attainment of the potentate's interest, it could intriguingly facilitate the attainment of the subordinate's interest, revealing that the outcome of power exercise does not always have to be negative for the subordinate. To reveal further insights into collective action and internal power dynamics, future multi-level institutional analyses are recommended, including changing livelihood outcomes linked to community engagement in honey production. • We analyse actors' interests and power relations in rural Cameroon's honey production governance. • Endogenous and exogenous actor typologies significantly manifest social interest in honey production. • Endogenous and exogenous actors significantly exercise (dis)incentives and dominant information in honey production. • The results challenge mainstream ACP debate that exogenous actors draw more from coercion. • Power exercise could potentially facilitate a positive interest-based outcome for potentates and subordinates.

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory framework in force in the Russian Federation regulating the quality and safety of honey and bee products. A multilevel regulatory structure has been studied, including the technical regulations of the Customs Union (EAEU), interstate and national standards (GOST), sanitary and epidemiological rules and legislation in the field of consumer protection. Key problems of the system have been identified, such as outdated control methods in some GOST standards, difficulties in identifying honey and its adulterants, especially in terms of establishing botanical and geographical origin. Special attention is paid to the comparative analysis of the requirements of the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union TR CU 021/2011 "On food safety" and the interstate standard GOST 19792-2017 "Natural honey. Technical specifications". Based on the analysis, proposals have been formulated to improve the regulatory framework, including the need to develop specific EAEU technical regulations directly for honey and bee products, updating test methods with the introduction of modern instrumental techniques (HPLC, GC-MS, isotope analysis), as well as strengthening administrative liability measures for falsification. This will create stable, understandable rules for bona fide market participants, ensure effective protection of consumers' rights to a high-quality and safe product, and strengthen the competitive position of Russian beekeeping in both domestic and international markets.

The beekeeping industry faces several challenges, including fraudulent honey production, market pressure, growing traceability requirements, and fragmented communication among stakeholders. Digital solutions can support market transparency, but they cannot eliminate fraudulent practices on their own without coherent legal regulations and analytical methods enabling the verification of product authenticity. This study explores beekeepers’ intention to adopt digital platforms for honey traceability and customer communication. Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), we analyzed behavioral intention through performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions. We also extended UTAUT by incorporating strategic benefits associated with apiary operations and beekeepers' willingness to share information. A structured survey was conducted among Polish beekeepers between August and October 2024 (n = 949), and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was used to test hypotheses. Results confirm that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, willingness to share information, and strategic benefits significantly predict behavioral intention to adopt digital platforms. These findings suggest that platform developers and policymakers should emphasize economic returns and effective communication tools when promoting digital solutions in beekeeping.

Background: Bee-derived products are rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties. Interest is growing in their potential role as adjuncts in supportive nutritional oncology, particularly for preventing and managing treatment-related toxicity symptoms in patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Methods: A systematic search of human and preclinical studies was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus from January 2000 to December 2025. Search terms combined bee-related product keywords with oncology-related keywords. Eligible studies included in vitro and in vivo preclinical models as well as clinical studies assessing biological properties, clinical outcomes, safety, and issues of product standardization. Results: Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that beehive products reduce oxidative stress, modulate inflammatory signaling pathways, exhibit antimicrobial activity against wound pathogens, and promote tissue repair. Results are most consistent for oral mucositis and for symptom management in head and neck cancer, where some studies report reduced pain, improved mucosal healing, and better nutritional status. Conclusions: This literature review identifies honey and beehive products as promising functional foods for improving oncological patient care. Further large studies are needed, as the evidence is heterogeneous across sample size, product composition, outcome measures, and therapeutic preparations.

Türkiye ranks third in the world in natural honey production, after China and India, but it lags significantly behind in exports. Therefore, increasing Türkiye's natural honey exports is of great importance. To achieve this, honey exporters in Türkiye need to operate in multiple markets and prioritize these markets. In this regard, the aim of this study is to identify, classify, and evaluate priority markets for Türkiye's natural honey exports. For this purpose, the LODECI method was used as the objective criterion weighting method, and the CoCoSo method was used to rank countries as priority markets. The current study analysed 18 markets and 7 criteria to determine priority markets, which were then classified into three groups. As a result of the study, when determining Türkiye's priority market for honey exports using the LODECI method, the two criteria with the highest weights were the annual increase in import unit value between 2020 and 2024 and the annual increase in import volume between 2020 and 2024. In the analysis that determined priority markets using the CoCoSo method, taking criterion weightings into account, seven countries were identified as high-priority markets for Türkiye's natural honey exports. The priority markets included the United States of America, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Italy.

This essay focuses on a series of radical, never-built “garden” designs from 1969 by the artist-turned-landscape-architect Patricia Johanson (1940–2024), which proposed sites in and around New York City that would confront the public with complex human–ecological interrelationships of the day, often posing thorny questions about them. In all, she composed 150 drawings and 7 related essays, sparked by a misguided commission from House & Garden magazine, which envisioned everything from skyscrapers retrofitted with plant trellises to filter water; to the conversion of a highway interchange into a clover field for honey production; fissures sliced into asphalt to allow the release and observation of subterranean steam; and a river dyed to highlight, rather than conceal, ongoing industrial pollution. I revisit this ambitious, multidisciplinary body of work not only in relation to its original context, when a modern ecology movement was gaining momentum, American cities were becoming ever more privatized, and a number of fellow artists began making large-scale outdoor artworks that would come to dominate art historical accounts of land and environmental art, but also, through the lens of its continued, and arguably heightened, relevance in our own moment of spiraling climate breakdown, corporate geo-engineering schemes, and further enclosures of various commons, as well as an ever-growing field of eco-art history, to which this special journal issue is a testament.

Traditional methods of extracting phospholipids require expensive materials such as sunflower oil, egg yolk and squid and fish roe. The yield of the final product remains low, not exceeding 7-10%. Furthermore, a significant amount of cholesterol is detected as an impurity in the product. To address this issue, the present research was conducted to expand the raw material base and utilize phospholipids as a starting material for creating liposomal drug formulations. To solve this problem, dead bees – an apicultural byproduct with a rich biochemical composition that provides comprehensive therapeutic and prophylactic effects – were used as a source of phospholipids. At the same time, the research demonstrated the effectiveness of using dead bees as a raw material for producing a phospholipid complex, a waste product of honey production. A comparative analysis with existing methods for producing phospholipid complexes revealed that the developed method increases the yield of the target product from the starting material. Furthermore, the research allowed us to refine a phospholipid production scheme that ensures an optimal phospholipid composition with the appropriate component ratio, which will subsequently enable the development of highly effective liposomal systems. The developed method for producing phospholipids offers several advantages: the combination of highly efficient preliminary dehydration of the main raw material of the bee product – dead bees – followed by acetone extraction at specific temperatures allows for a single extraction with simultaneous purification of the phospholipids from polypeptide impurities. At the same time, the conducted research reduced the duration of the extraction process through comprehensive experimental selection of the optimal solvent ratio of CHCl3, C2H6O, and CH3COOH, temperature parameters and stirring speed. Importantly, the use of a nitrogen stream in the proposed method for producing phospholipids contributed to an increase in their technological yield.

Consumers are increasingly looking for foods with enhanced biological activity that positively impact health. Honey is regarded to meet these expectations, because of its traditional use and high biological value, largely attributed to its antioxidant properties and high total phenolic content (TPC). However, honey can also serve as a matrix for the development of different functional formulations and food products to further promote consumers' acceptance and health-beneficial value, but also for affecting product stability. The present study aimed at evaluating how the incorporation of a phenolic-rich blackcurrant puree influences the properties of a honey-based formulation. Physicochemical properties, including antioxidant activity and consumer desirability, were assessed, while microbiological analyses were conducted to evaluate product stability. The results showed that the addition of 7% and 12% blackcurrant puree increased TPC and radical scavenging activity but led to an acidification beyond EU legal limits. In microbiological analyses, no pathogens were detected; however, the possibility of fungal activity could not be excluded. Sensory evaluation indicated that honey with 12% puree was preferred the most, particularly for color and odor. Overall, the study demonstrates that adding frozen fruit as a functional ingredient may be an effective strategy for developing functional honey-based formulations with enhanced antioxidant potential and improved sensory attractiveness. At the same time, findings highlight key formulation and safety challenges, including acidity management and microbial control, which must be considered when developing fruit-enriched honey products.

BackgroundThis study investigated indigenous knowledge-based production practices and utilization of stingless bee honey (SBH) among rural communities in Ethiopia’s humid Afromontane Forest zones of the Southwest (Kaffa, Sheka, Majang, Jimma) and the semi-arid Borena Zone in the South. SBH is an important medicinal, nutritional and cultural resource for these communities, yet information on local production systems, species used, harvest practices and threats are limited.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 253 respondents selected from communities identified as potential stingless bee producers and users in the humid Afromontane Forest districts of the Southwest and the semi-arid forest district of southern Ethiopia. Data were collected using a combination of structured interviews and direct field observations to collect comprehensive information on local production practices, species distribution, harvesting techniques, utilization patterns, and the major challenges associated with stingless bee honey (SBH) production.ResultsThe findings show that SBH harvesting is primarily conducted by men (93.3%), with most harvesters also engaged in agriculture and livestock production. Traditional ecological knowledge is predominantly passed down from elders (78.7%). Educational levels vary, with primary education being the most common. The majority of SBH is obtained from wild colonies (97.6%), with limited efforts toward domestication (2.4%). In Yabello, honey is collected from three species: Plebeina armata, Meliponula beccarii, and Hypotrigona species, known locally as “Dama Damu Guracha,” “Dama Damu Dimma,” and “Tunale,” respectively, in the Oromifa language. In the Southwest region (Kaffa, Sheka, Majang, and Jimma), M. beccarii and H. trigona are identified as the primary species, each with distinct local names depending on the zone. Communities in the study area possess traditional knowledge and skills that are primarily focused on digging around colonies to create nesting spaces. However, there are significant seasonal variations in harvesting times across different zones. The peak harvesting periods in Kaffa, Sheka, Majang, and Jimma zones occur in April, while in the Borena Zone, it extends from April to June. Colonies are located by observing and tracking the movement of worker bees. Harvesting techniques differ, with the majority (74.3%) employing squeezing methods, while 21.3% use a combination of squeezing and colony destruction. SBH is mainly harvested once a year, predominantly for medicinal purposes (94.9%). There are notable differences in production volume across regions, with the highest estimated yield from Sheka Zone (4.8 ± 8 kg) over the past 12 months and the lowest from Majang (1.2 ± 1.6 kg). The honey is consumed in various ways, often before meals, for its medicinal properties, such as treating asthma, colds, and respiratory diseases. The study also highlights major threats to meliponine colonies, including predators, land-use changes, unsustainable harvesting practices, and agrochemical use, with 83% of respondents concerned about the potential endangerment of these bees. Despite the longstanding tradition of SBH production, only 1.9% of respondents have received training in meliponiculture.ConclusionIndigenous knowledge of stingless bee honey production remains a vital component of local culture and livelihoods in Ethiopia. However, the practice faces serious challenges due to limited training, lack of modern meliponiculture practices, and environmental pressures. Strengthening conservation efforts, providing technical training, and integrating traditional knowledge with modern practices are essential for sustaining stingless bee populations and promoting the sustainable production of this valuable honey.

Beekeeping that is one of the livestock activities is one of the sectors with significant added value in the country's economy. In addition to honey production, products like propolis, pollen and royal jelly are also produced in beekeeping activities. As in Türkiye, the demand for beekeeping products is increasing in Çanakkale province due to population growth. In order to make appropriate policy inferences against this increasing demand, it is crucial to comprehend the future course of honey production. Forecasting honey production and making informed decisions on the beekeeping sector’s future requires the implementation of production plans. The study aims to predict honey production amount in Çanakkale province for the period 2025-2030 using honey production data covering the periods 1999-2024. Honey production was estimated using the ARIMA model. According to the research results, honey production in Çanakkale province is estimated to be approximately 2.325 tons in 2025 and 2.639 tons in 2030. Consequently, the estimates of honey production are expected to provide valuable information to policymakers and decision makers.