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MBP - Development of new apiculture products in biological production mode


Project Type: Nacional / Público
Financial Program: PRODER - Medida 4.1
IPB Funding Value: 181354.81 €
Type of project: Research Project
Principal Investigator: Maria Letícia Miranda Fernandes Estevinho
Start: 2011-02-01
End: 2015-03-31
More info: http://www.proder.pt/Handlers/Coopera%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20para%20a%20Inova%C3%A7%C3%A3of995.pdf
Description: Propolis is a resinous material, also called â€œbee glueâ€, collected directly from plants and exudates. This product has the main pharmacological properties, which have high bactericidal and bacteriostatic power. Royal Gelly, that can be white and/or yellow, is secreted by beesâ€™ hypopharyngeal glands. Its composition is complex, including proteins, amino acids, organic acids, steroids, phenolics, sugars and minerals. This product is not produced in Portugal. In fact both products are undervalued in Portugal, due to the lack of education and information of the beekeepers themselves. It should be mentioned that these products donâ€™t compete with honey and, thus, can be used has a source of additional profits. In this context, the global objective of this project is to valorize economically this two beehive products. It also aims to produce a product, to be used topically, based on these substances, which might be used in the treatment of wounds and human food. In addition, a new food for bees will also be formulated. The aim is to unite efforts between the two 'actors' in the partnership that focuses on products of a strategic line, certified as 'Modo de Produção Biológico'. The use of these products in the development of substances that can be used topically and pads to be used in the treatment of wounds, such as burnings, is extremely important, considering the increase of imunosupressed and pathogenic microorganisms resistant to the available therapies. Despite the need to incorporate 2 to 3 kg of artificial bees's food, in order to support the winter's adversities and stimulate the production of colonies, in our country it's not produced any biological food specific for bees. The ESAB in collaboration with BioApis LDA and also with Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (in the last phase of the tests), will have the needed methodologies and human resources to carry this project on.