CIMO in Citizen Science investigation for pesticides in apicultural products in Europe

CIMO/IPB is one of the 16 European institutions responsible for the Citizen Science Investigation for Pesticides in Apicultural Products – INSIGNIA action over the next 2.5 years. INSIGNIA is a pilot study of best practices for a European wide monitoring program with honeybee colonies in an apiculturist citizen science setting to study pesticide use and exposure of honeybees and investigation of pollen food sources. Honeybees are regarded as one of the best bio-indicators due to their sensitivity to chemicals, their dependence on the environment and the use of their products both for food and medicine. This 1.5 million Euro citizen science action is funded by the European Commission (DG SANTE – Health and Food Safety). The action will be lead at CIMO by researcher M. Alice Pinto.