Research &
Innovation
Research on honeybees and pollinators:
Overview of the latest projects selected under the last call of FP7
Béla ATZÉL, PhD planning and programming officer
Agri-Food Chain
European Commission
Directorate-General for Research & Innovation
Research &
Innovation
Structure of the presentation
• 1) Completed projects
• 2) On-going projects
• 3) Future perspectives
Research &
Innovation
1) Completed projects
FP6
• BRAVE - Bee research and virology in Europe - identifying the research needs for protecting European agriculture and ecosystems against viral diseases (2005) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/75718_en.html
• ALARM - Assessing LArge-scale environmental Risks with tested Methods (2004-2009) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/74303_en.html
• BEE SHOP - Bees in Europe and Sustainable Honey Production (2006-2009) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/78605_en.html
Research &
Innovation
FP7
• BEE DOC - Bees in Europe and the decline of honeybee colonies (2010-2013) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/94004_en.html
• CLEANHIVE - Detecting the Pathogen that Threatens European Honey Bees (2008-2012) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/94165_en.html
• APIFRESH - Developing European standards for bee pollen and royal jelly: quality, safety and authenticity (2010-2013) http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/94698_en.html
Research &
Innovation
2) On-going projects
Research &
Innovation
9 projects running, under 4 specific programmes:
• Cooperation:
• Research Theme: 'Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology' (FP7-KBBE)
• Research Theme: 'Environment (including climate change)' (FP7-ENVIRONMENT)
• Ideas:
• Frontier research (FP7-IDEAS-ERC)
• People:
• Marie Curie Action
• Capacities:
• Research theme: Research for the benefit of SMEs (FP7-SME)
Total cost: EUR 26.509.959
EU contribution: EUR 21.267.309
Research &
Innovation
Inventory of projects
• STEP – Status and Trends of European Pollinators (2010-2015)
• AMIGA - Assessing and Monitoring the Impacts of Genetically modified plants on Agro-ecosystems (2011-2015)
• AUDITORYFLY - Auditory Processing in Insect Brains (2011-14)
• PYNAMITE - Mode of action and selectivity of pyrethroids on economically important mites and ticks (2012-2014)
• SWARMONITOR - Development of a tool for effective diagnostic monitoring of honey bee colonies (2012-2015)
Research &
Innovation
• SMARTBEES – Sustainable Management of Resilient Bee populations (2014-2018)
• SPACERADARPOLLINATOR - Space use by bees– radar tracking of spatial movement patterns of key pollinators (2014-2019)
• NEUROBEECOG2012 - Smart foraging: neuronal complexity, cognition and foraging in honey bees (2014-2016)
• BEEFUN - Pollinator responses to global change and its implications for ecosystem function (2014-2018)
(Started in 2014)
Research &
Innovation
SMARTBEES Sustainable Management of Resilient Bee populations (2014-2018)
Total cost:
EUR 7 762 261
EU contribution:
EUR 5 998 866
Coordinated in:
Germany
Subprogramme:
KBBE.2013.1.3-02 - Sustainable apiculture and conservation of honey bee genetic diversity
Call for proposal:
FP7-KBBE-2013-7-single-stage
•
Funding scheme:
CP-TP - Collaborative Project targeted to a special group (such as SMEs)
Project reference: 613960 Funded under: FP7-KBBE
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/192071_en.html
Research &
Innovation
• Objectives
• to identify crucial facets of honeybee resistance to colony losses, Varroa and viruses;
• to characterise the genetic background of the resistance mechanisms in honeybees;
• to develop breeding strategies to increase the frequencies of these valuable traits in local honeybee populations;
• to promote multiple local breeding efforts, to conserve local resilient populations and will develop molecular tools for describing and safeguarding future populations;
• to protect European natural honeybee heritage.
Research &
Innovation
SPACERADARPOLLINATOR Space use by bees– radar tracking of spatial movement patterns of key pollinators (2014-2019)
Total cost:
EUR 3 438 922
EU contribution:
EUR 3 438 922
Coordinated in:
United Kingdom
Subprogramme:
ERC-AG-LS8 - ERC Advanced Grant - Evolutionary, population and environmental biology
Call for proposal:
ERC-2013-ADG
Funding scheme:
ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant
Project reference: 339347 Funded under: FP7-IDEAS-ERC
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/185402_en.html
Research &
Innovation
Objectives
• transponder miniaturisation, to develop radar technology to allow coverage of areas of up to 10km2 and the exploration of the 3rd dimension of insect flight;
• tracking bees in three dimensions:
• to identify the rules of bee movements at the landscape scale,
• to monitor natural resource exploration and exploitation
• to quantify individual differences in space use.
• to monitor competitive interactions as well as the possibility of social learning in space use.
• to identify spatial movement strategies of queens and males;
• to increase the understanding of pollinator space use, but also for the conservation, management, and the understanding of mating patterns in the plants they pollinate.
Research &
Innovation
NEUROBEECOG2012 Smart foraging: neuronal complexity, cognition and foraging in honey bees (2014-16)
Total cost:
EUR 299 558
EU contribution:
EUR 299 558
Coordinated in:
United Kingdom
Subprogramme: FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IIF - Marie Curie Action: "International Incoming Fellowships"
Call for proposal:
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IIF
Funding scheme:
MC-IIF - International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)
Project reference: 328446 Funded under: FP7-PEOPLE
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/108654_en.html
Research &
Innovation
Objectives
• to investigate how honey bees solve choice tasks when available information is limited. (metacognition / alternative simpler strategies)
• to examine how bees recognize and communicate uncertainty about floral resources when foraging socially.
• to determine how natural and manipulated changes in neuronal complexity relate to the abilities of bees to solve cognitive demanding tasks and foraging.
• to examine how cognitive differences, natural and otherwise, relate to neuronal complexity by determining the anatomical changes that occur in key regions of the honey bee brain.
• to determine the relationship between neuronal complexity and cognitive ability and foraging performance and will advance understanding of the evolution and biology of cognition.
Research &
Innovation
BEEFUN Pollinator responses to global change and its implications for ecosystem function (2014-2018)
Total cost:
EUR 100 000
EU contribution:
EUR 100 000
Coordinated in:
Spain
Subprogramme: FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG - Marie-Curie Action: "Career Integration Grants"
Call for proposal:
FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG
Funding scheme:
MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)
Project reference: 631653 Funded under: FP7-PEOPLE
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/186904_en.html
Research &
Innovation
Objectives
• to understand the effects of pollinators species loss in real ecosystems.
• to understand the threats to the pollinator species that provide this critical ecosystem function and assess the consequences of their decline in real ecosystems.
• to investigate this relationship between the stability of ecosystems and the adaptation of species to anthropogenic habitats,
• to develope a framework that takes into account trait functional diversity, species specific responses, and community structure.
• to use new synthetic analysis of existing datasets form Europe and US, and long-term monitoring of experimentally manipulated natural communities in southern Spain.
Research &
Innovation
3) Future perspectives
FP7 is replcaced by Horizon 2020
• What's new?
• • Coupling research to innovation – from research to retail, all forms of innovation
• • Focus on societal challenges facing EU society (e.g. food security, environment…)
• • Simplified access, for all companies, universities, institutes in all EU countries and beyond…
• …increase in budget!
Research &
Innovation
Room for project proposals on bees and pollination
• Excellent Science
• European Research Council (ERC)
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA)
• Industrial leadership
• Innovation in SMEs
• Societal Challenges
• SC2: Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry…
• SC5: Climate Action, Environment, Research Efficiency…
Research &
Innovation
Thank you for your attention!
Research &
Innovation
Annexs for Q&A session
Research &
Innovation
AMIGA Assessing and Monitoring the Impacts of Genetically modified plants on Agro-ecosystems (2011-2015)
Total cost:
EUR 7 779 852
EU contribution:
EUR 5 997 963
Coordinated in:
Italy
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/101406_en.html http://www.amigaproject.eu/
Subprogramme:
KBBE.2011.3.5-01 - GM crops in the EU - systematically assessing environmental and economic impacts
Call for proposal:
FP7-KBBE-2011-5
Funding scheme:
CP-IP - Large-scale integrating project
Project reference: 289706
Research &
Innovation
Objectives
• providing baseline data on biodiversity in agro-ecosystems in the EU;
• defining lists of suitable bioindicators for various European regions;
• improving knowledge on potential long term environmental effects of genetically modified plants (GMPs);
• testing the efficacy of the EFSA Guidance Document (GD) for the Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) of GMPs;
• exploring new strategies for post market monitoring;
• estimating the compatibility of GMPs with the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles implemented in the EU;
• providing a systematic analysis of economical aspects of GMPs cultivation in the EU; and
• setting a training and communication plan addressing public concerns about GMPs.
Research &
Innovation
STEP Status and Trends of European Pollinators (2010-2015)
Total cost:
EUR 4 787 289
EU contribution:
EUR 3 499 994
Coordinated in:
United Kingdom
Subprogramme:
ENV.2009.2.1.4.1 - Assess the pan-European status of pollinators
Call for proposal:
FP7-ENV-2009-1
Funding scheme:
CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/93949_en.html
http://www.step-project.net/
Project reference: 244090
Research &
Innovation
Objectives
• to document the status and trends of pollinators (managed honeybees, wild bees and hoverflies) and animal-pollinated plant populations;
• to determine and analyse the multiple pressures that are driving changes in pollinators and animal-pollinated plants;
• to assess the impact of changes ;
• to evaluate and synthesise strategies to mitigate the impacts;
• to analyse and improve the interface between the scientific knowledge base on pollinator change assessment and policy instruments to reduce pollinator / pollination loss and mitigate its effects;
• to develop communication and educational links with a wide range of stakeholders and the general public.
Research &
Innovation
SWARMONITOR Development of a tool for effective diagnostic monitoring of honey bee colonies (2012-2015)
• Total cost:
• EUR 1 834 993
• EU contribution:
• EUR 1 424 922
• Coordinated in:
• United Kingdom
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/105847_en.html www.swarmonitor.com
• Subprogramme:
• SME-2012-2 - Research for SME associations
• Call for proposal:
• FP7-SME-2012
• Funding scheme:
• BSG-SME-AG - Research for SME associations/groupings
Project reference: 315146
Research &
Innovation
Objectives
• to develop the first monitoring tool that would detect changes in honey bee activity within the beehive for the effective management of bees.
• the tool to allow beekeepers to remotely diagnose colony status without the invasive opening of hives for physical inspection.
• to increase the efficiency of beekeeping allowing small and hobby beekeepers to more closely manage their colonies and predict behaviour that requires intervention remotely.
• to allow commercial beekeepers to keep more hives over greater geographical distances so increasing their efficiency and profitability.
Research &
Innovation
AUDITORYFLY Auditory Processing in Insect Brains (2011-14)
Total cost:
EUR 228 277
EU contribution:
EUR 228 277
Coordinated in:
Germany
• Subprogramme: FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF - Marie Curie Action: "International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development"
• Call for proposal: FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF
• Funding scheme: MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)
Project reference: 273180 Funded under: FP7-PEOPLE
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/99360_en.html
Research &
Innovation
Objectives
• to characterise the auditory system, from sensory input to behavioural output, using the brain of Drosophila fruit flies and honeybees.
• to identify neurons responding to species-specific sound features.
• to identify neurons in the auditory centres of the honeybee, while studying brain structures involved in a sophisticated communication mode (waggle dance).
• to discover circuits underlying sound processing in the brain and will contribute to the understanding of fundamental principles of communication.
Research &
Innovation
PYNAMITE Mode of action and selectivity of pyrethroids on economically important mites and ticks (2012-2014)
Total cost:
EUR 278 807
EU contribution:
EUR 278 807
Coordinated in:
United Kingdom
• Subprogramme: FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development"
• Call for proposal:
• FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF
• Funding scheme:
• MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)
Project reference: 298831 Funded under: FP7-PEOPLE
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/103821_en.html
Research &
Innovation
Objectives
• to increase the understanding of pyrethroid effect mechanism and selectivity on mites/ticks (crucial for the design of next generation compounds).
• to enhance selectivity of pyrethroid pesticides - model organism Varroa mites on honeybees.
• to characterise pyrethroid interactions with tick/mite Na channels at molecular level.
• to identify novel resistance mutations and resistance development in pest populations threatens the long-term success of currently effective compounds.
• to develop rapid, high throughput DNA-based assays for diagnosing the presence/absence of resistance mutations in field populations of ticks/mites.