2023-05-20 08:21:41
The number of registered beekeepers in Belgium continues to increase and in 2022 crossed the bar of 10,000 professionals and amateurs, i.e. 789 breeders more than in 2021, Afsca indicated on Saturday on the occasion of the world bee day. However, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain warns of the increasing mortality rate of bees.
After a slight drop in the mortality rate for the period 2020-2021 (17.76%), it rose to 21.8% for the period 2021-2022, reports Afsca, which followed 194 beekeepers in this frame. “In 2022, Varroa, a parasite, remained the most frequent cause of bee mortality“, says the agency. “In addition, four outbreaks of European foulbrood and two outbreaks of American foulbrood were also identified in 2022. When these diseases are detected, the bee colony is destroyed to prevent any spread to other hives.“, she continues.
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