MOLDAPIS LAUNCHES FIRST LABORATORY FOR ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF QUEEN BEES

The Moldovan beekeepers have launched the first laboratory for artificial insemination of queen bees, managed by the MoldApis Association of Beekeepers.

According to the Association, with the support of the USAID project, the laboratory was equipped with modern equipment for genetic material capable of producing significant amount of honey.

The project invested about 400 thousand lei in a laboratory equipped with seeding equipment, an incubator and a microscope that allows producing high-quality genetic material.

Head of the USAID representative office in Moldova, Scott Hocklander pointed out that the project assisted the development of the Moldovan beekeeping sector, which managed to export product worth US$11.9 million in 2019.

Infotag’s dossier: there are 7.8 thousand beekeepers registered in Moldova, who own about 260 thousand bee colonies. Every year, they need about 100 thousand queen bees. Approximately 80% of the genetic material is imported to Moldova illegally without confirmation of their health. Currently, 10 beekeepers in Moldova are accredited for the production of queens.