Lower Saxony State Institute for Bee Research and Apiculture Celle

RESEARCH – TRAINING – ADVISING
The Institute was founded in 1927 by the former Provincial Government of Hannover. Its aim was to stop the severe descrease of apiculture in this region by establishing a governmental training research institution as well as an apicultural advisory center. Thus to ensure the best use of honeybees in the field of political economy. The priority for this aim was to assist in the change from skep to hive beekeeping (from the use of fixed combs to working with movable frames), in the control of bee diseases and in the determination of honey falsifications.

PRESENT TASKS AND FIELDS OF ACHATIVITIES
Teaching and advice Successful apiculture requires a broad knowledge and skill by the beekeeper. It is main task of the Institute to supply this. Therefore, the fields mentioned below constitute the main points of the work programme Training for beekeepers with a governmental approved final examination (Celle is the largest apicultural apprenticeship institution in Germany) Sandwich courses (block teaching for ten weeks in winter) to cover workshop practice and theoretical aspects of beekeeping (Celle is the only overregional training center for professional beekeepers in Germany) Advising, including an external apicultural advisory service Lending library Lectures and courses at Hannover University Guidance of doctor and examination candidates to scientific working Investigations and consulting Laboratory analyses of honey and pollen Examination of bee disease samples Risk assessment of pesticides to determine whether they are harmful for bees Preparation of reports by beekeeping experts Bee breeding Only a few beekeepers actually spend their time breeding bees. To spread adequate “bee material” all over Lower Saxony the Institute has been providing valuable queen bees and selected bee eggs and larvae to the beekeepers for many years. Vigour and high foraging behaviour, gentleness, low swarm tendency and low susceptibility to diseases are considered the main objectives of our breeding. Research Nowadays bees and beekeeping raise several new questions (e.g. concern for bee health, bee breeding, nutritional, and environmental concerns). Applied research is imperatively needed to solve these various problems. The following are currently under consideration: · Beekeeping techniques – management systems · Bee diseases: varroatosis and American foul brood, including early diagnosis of the latter by spore detection · Breeding: selection – cross breeding of strains – performance examination – mating control · Composition and chemical – physical properties of honey, pollen and propolis · Effects of honey, pollen and propolis on microorganisms · Pollen analysis (melissopalynology) · Nutrional physiology of honey bees · Bee pasture: forage value of different nectar, honey dew and pollen sources, including fallow land and growing plants for renewable natural resources · Pollination of cultivated and wild plants of honey bees · Ecology of honey bees and of wild bees · Influence of pesticides and bee medicine formulations on honey bees Information for the public For many years the Institute has tried to inform the public on the economical and ecological significances of apiculture as well as to rouse its sympathy for the needs of apiculture. Beside the above mentioned advisory and lecture activities, this aim is also pursued by visit to the Institute.

Numerous visual aids related to bees and beekeeping are available there to visitors. Structure of staff Biologists, beekeeping masters and advisers on apiculture, examined beekeepers, technical assistants, office clerks, gardeners, carpenter, apprendices, special personnel for investigation work, post graduate and undergraduate students. The institute´s facilities Investigation laboratories (chemistry, bacteriology, microscopy) Workshop for apicultural practice Lecture and demonstration rooms Apiaries (hive stands, bee houses, skep shelter) in the institute´s garden, and out apiaries Bee flight room Library Information stands Museum facilities Administration Residential accommodation for apprentices

Adress and E-mail:

Tourismus Region Celle GmbH
Markt 14-16
29221 Celle
Phon : + 49 (0) 51 41 / 12 453
Fax : + 49 (0) 51 41 / 12 459
e-mail :   heino.mueller@tourismus-region-celle.de 
              info@tourismus-region-celle.de
Internet:  www.region-celle.de