The Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) annual general meeting 2026 this week both virtually and in-person (Calgary, AB). Attending national meetings such as the CAPA AGM, as well as the Canadian Honey Council National Beekeeping Convention, is important to ATTTA as it provides the opportunity to voice the concerns and needs of the Atlantic beekeeping industry at the national level. Read this week’s blog to learn more about CAPA and why it is valuable that all Tech Transfer programs participate in this association. 

The Importance of Participation of the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture in National Groups

The Canadian Association of Profession Apiculturists (CAPA) is the umbrella group for professionals who independently conduct research, educate and otherwise support the beekeeping industry across the country. This group of apiculturists converge every year at the CAPA annual general meeting. The 2026 meeting, held in Calgary, AB, highlighted the importance of this association and the extensive work members are involved in, within and outside of the group, to support Canada’s beekeeping industry. It is worthwhile highlighting the importance of ATTTA and all Tech Transfer programs participating in national groups such as CAPA and also attending events hosted by the Canadian Honey Council (CHC).

Logos of Canadian national beekeeping groups: Canadian Honey Council and Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists.

Members of CAPA engage in diverse activities in their roles outside of the professional association, such as regulatory aspects of honey bee management, honey bee health inspections, honey bee health and pollination research, collection of statistics, conservation initiatives to support wild pollinators, and development of cost-effective practices and tools to support a sustainable beekeeping industry. CAPA meets annually in conjunction with the Canadian Honey Council (CHC) as a joint, important communication and networking event.

The communication between ATTTA and national groups allows the Atlantic beekeeping industry to have a voice nationally. The Atlantic beekeeping industry in unique compared to other regions of Canada. For example, Newfoundland and Labrador has the privilege of being Varroa mite free, and protecting their industry should be a priority of all other Canadian provinces. Additionally, the commercial beekeeping business model for the Atlantic provinces is very different from other areas in Canada where most Atlantic commercial beekeepers prioritize wild blueberry pollination, and expected honey production is less than regions of Canada where commercial colonies pollinate canola plants. Making sure that the Atlantic region is well represented at national meetings is important for these reasons. Additionally, national meetings provide valuable information on new research, industry priorities and market trends which, when appropriate, ATTTA can circulate that information throughout the Atlantic region.

Although each Tech Transfer team does a great job at representing their industry at the national level it is also encouraged for individual beekeepers to get involved with national groups and training opportunities when possible. For example, there are two upcoming Canadian Honey Bee Health webinars taking place on March 18^th and March 25^th which are organized by the Canadian Honey Council and the Canadian Bee Tech Transfer Programs. 

Upcoming Canadian Honey Bee Health webinars taking place on March 18^th and March 25^th which are organized by the Canadian Honey Council and the Canadian Bee Tech Transfer Programs.

Overall, ATTTA, and all other Tech Transfer Programs, communicate and work with CAPA and the CHC on industry concerns that are shared across the country. Canadian beekeepers are fortunate to have both of these organizations working on their behalf. To learn about new research happening both nationally and internationally read next week’s blog which will highlight research shared at the National Beekeeping Convention. 

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email attta@perennia.ca

Last week the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture had a series of meetings with beekeepers and wild blueberry growers in Charlottetown, PE and the surrounding area. These meetings provided a great opportunity to recap the 2025 beekeeping and pollination season, and to discuss future research plans and priorities of the ATTTA team. Read this week’s blog for an overview of the various meetings.

Review of Prince Edward Island Beekeeper and Wild Blueberry Meetings

Last week the Atlantic Tech Transfer Team for Apiculture had several meetings with various stakeholders of the PEI beekeeping and wild blueberry industries. ATTTA met with the PEI department of agriculture, the PEI Wild Blueberry Growers’ Association and the PEI Beekeepers’ Association to discuss research plans and priorities of ATTTA’s, and to learn more about PEI’s beekeeping and wild blueberry pollination season. In addition to meeting with industry representatives, ATTTA also met with any individual PEI beekeeper who expressed interest in sitting down with ATTTA one-on-one to discuss their own beekeeping interests, concerns and goals.

When discussing ATTTA’s research, one of the main projects of interest to all Maritime beekeepers, PEI included, is ATTTA’s Varroa mite work. ATTTA has one more season left of their regional Varroa mite survey and amitraz efficacy study, but the team is already discussing future honey bee health research, and, given the impact this pest has on the industry, research will continue to prioritize Varroa mite management.

ATTTA also discussed with industry past wild blueberry pollination work and the various research interests of island growers, such as the use of non-apis pollinators, importance and abundance of native pollinators on the island, and the use of weather stations and growing degree day models to improve pollination efficiency. ATTTA will continue to consult with all Maritime wild blueberry associations and government representatives when designing future pollination research projects.

Some of the topics discussed with individual beekeepers included wax moth management, overwintering preparation, splitting colonies, queen availability and queen production. Wax moth continues to be a concern for many island beekeepers. To help provide information on wax moth biology, prevention, and management of infestations, ATTTA published a fact sheet which can be found on the ATTta website: https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/. The ATTTA team will also be presenting some information on wax moth management at upcoming PEI beekeeping events.

Overall, island beekeepers indicate having a good 2025 beekeeping season. Last winter, the province experienced a winter loss of 22.9% which is below their provincial average and a significant improvement from the previous winter (2023-2024) at 61.3%. An estimated 4,675 hives, supplied by approximately 25 to 30 beekeepers, went to pollinate wild blueberries, and an additional 3,472 hives were imported into the province during the pollination period. A full report regarding the 2025 beekeeping season, including estimated honey production for the province, will be provided by the provincial apiculturist at the upcoming annual general meeting for the PEI Beekeepers’ Association.

The PEI Beekeepers’ Association annual general meeting will be held on February 28^th at the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre (97 Queen St Dominion Building), and all island beekeepers are encouraged to attend to learn about industry happenings and gain insight to new research happening within the beekeeping industry. Another event of interest to PEI beekeepers is an upcoming workshop organized by the PEI Beekeepers’ Association and ATTTA, which will be taking place on April 24^th and 25^th at the Farm Centre (420 University Ave, Charlottetown).

PEI Spring Workshop occurring on April 24^th and 25^th in Charlottetown, PE.

Thank you to all beekeepers, wild blueberry growers and industry representatives who took the time to met with our team last week. ATTTA is looking forward to the mentioned upcoming events, and for another great beekeeping season collaborating with island beekeepers and growers.

Connecting with ATTTA Specialists

If you’d like to connect with ATTTA specialists or learn more about our program, you can:

visit our website at https://www.perennia.ca/portfolio-items/honey-bees/

Email attta@perennia.ca