By November 2016, graduates of the commercial beekeeping program will have the skills to work in, manage and grow existing beekeeping operations or establish and grow their own diversified cottage beekeeping business of up to 300 hives.
“There is a bee shortage in B.C.,” says Jim Pelton, executive director of Continuing and Professional Studies at KPU. “Our aim is to bolster B.C.’s beekeeping industry by providing the training that will allow our students to meet the province’s growing pollination demands.”
The 16 initial graduates of KPU’s program could increase B.C.’s honey production by $250,000 per year while supporting more than $6 million in agricultural production.
Funding of $350,000 for the beekeeping program was provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture through programs delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C.
“A healthy bee population is integral to a successful harvest, a prosperous agriculture industry and a strong economy,” says Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo.
Students in the KPU program will receive instruction in beehive care, bee disease management, bee botany, food safety, processing, packaging and many other areas.
For more information, visit www.kpu.ca.
Bee facts:
• Honeybees play a critical role in the production of many crops, representing a value of over $14 billion per year for Canada and the U.S.
• Up to 80 per cent of the world’s major crop species benefit from insect pollination.
• Some fruits do not develop without pollination from honeybees.
• Honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and beeswax, are all used by people for nutrition, skin care and general healing.
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