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The event was held at St. George’s University, home of the East Caribbean Bee Research and Extension Center (ECBREC). Patterned after the bee college at University of Florida, the CBC’s aim was sharing research, information and tools to improve the sustainability of beekeeping in the region.
Dr. Valma Jessamy, president of the Grenada Association of Beekeepers and a passionate beekeeper herself, says that she is pleased with the first CBC and sees many ways in which it can benefit beekeeping in Grenada.
“This exercise is very important for raising the profile of our beekeepers,” Dr. Jessamy stated. “Many beekeepers do not have formal training. Rather, they are artists and have acquired the skill of beekeeping by instinct. The CBC helps to bring some of the science to complement their art.” Grenada currently has about 50 beekeepers who produce approximately 3,000 gallons of honey per year.
Aaron Francois, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the CBC, expressed his vision of seeing the CBC expand, diversify, and globalize the beekeeping industry in Grenada. He expressed his ministry’s commitment to the CBC, stating: “The Ministry of Agriculture regards the apiculture industry as one of the subsectors holding the greatest potential for transforming the agro-business sector.”
Dr. Calum MacPherson, Director of Research at SGU, spoke on the importance of the honeybee industry. He said: “Beekeeping and its products have so many varied applications that our medical, our veterinary and our public health departments will all be able to play a role in this bee college.” Honeybees account for one-third of the world’s food and their products serve many purposes including healing wounds.
The CBC was a collaborative effort by ECBREC, the Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab (HBREL) at University of Florida (UF), the Association of Caribbean Beekeepers’ Organizations (ACBO) and the Grenada Association of Beekeepers (GAB).
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