CA22105 - BEekeeping products valorization and biomonitoring for the SAFEty of BEEs and HONEY
BeSafeBeeHoney
ABOUT
-
COST
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks. COST Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and beyond and enable researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in any science and technology field by sharing them with their peers.
COST Actions are bottom-up networks with a duration of four years that boost research, innovation and careers and are different to many other EU funded projects because it is possible to join and participate in a research network once it has started running, this feature applies throughout the entire lifespan of the Action. This is the openness of COST.
CA22105 - BeSafeBeeHoney
Action details - MoU
SO Approval date - 12/05/2023
Start date - 26/09/2023
End date - 25/09/2027
-
BeSafeBeeHoney - Aim & Description
Since ancient times, honey has been a popular functional food due to its healthy properties based its bioactive compounds composition with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, the European honeybee, Apis mellifera, is the most important pollinator, crucial for food and plant production in general. However, bees are in decline, being threatened to extinction in Europe due to anthropogenic activities, including agriculture intensification and pesticide application. This have led to reduction of honey production with 40% of EU consumption being imported. Traying help and ameliorate honeybee colonies, the present groundbreaking network will deliver cooperation between international wide range beekeeping stakeholders and the innovative results will be related to the following topics:
1. Honey and by-products nutritional and medicinal properties.
2. Abiotic stressors and anthropogenic contaminants in the environment using hive products as indicators.
3. Prevalent diseases and biotic stressors threatening honeybee colonies.
4. Honeybees as pollinators in agriculture and consequences of lost colonies in agrarian ecosystems.
5. Policy research and market analysis related with beekeeping activities.
The COST Action CA22105, BeSafeBeehoney, with a multi-actor approach, brings together distinct expertise – chemistry, biology, ecology, veterinary, beekeeping, agrarian engineering, nutrition, economy, and policy to deliver breakthrough scientific developments. The importance of beekeeping is in line with SDG2, 12 and 15, aiming the promotion of sustainable agriculture, quality production, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The SDG5 seeking to achieve gender equality while still a constant challenge, in this team more than half of the members are women, young researchers and belonging to inclusiveness target countries.
-
Core Group/ Leadership
Action Chair
Andreia FREITAS
Action Vice-Chair
Ivana VARENINA
Grant Holder Scientific Representative
Sara LESTON
Science Communication Coordinator
Giuseppa DI BELLA
Grant Awarding Coordinator
Jelena ĆIRIĆ
WG1 Leader
Carolina NEBOT
WG2 Leader
Iveta PUGAJEVA
WG3 Leader
Ivana TLAK GAJGER
WG4 Leader
Fabian A. RUEDENAUER
WG5 Leader
Henning FOGED
WG6 Leader
Marta LEITE
-
Management Committee
See full list HERE
WORKING GROUPS
WG1
Nutritional and medicinal properties of honey and by-products: quality criteria in motion
This working group will focus on bee products, their nutritional and medicinal properties, as well as aspects related to their authenticity. The objective is to have an overview of current knowledge, emerging data, as well as the analytical methods available and applicable in different laboratories. Information regarding honey, royal jelly, wax, propolis and pollen, among others, will be reviewed and compiled to explain and promote the benefits of these products on human health.
The WG will exchange information, samples, experiences to propose standard methods to determine the nutritional composition of bee products. Likewise, collaboration between members and groups will be encourage to study the biological properties, authenticity and characterization of the products obtained from different origins. The ultimate goal of the WG is to merge and unify findings and knowledge on bee products.
Task 1.1. Assess and review current knowledge on nutritional, biological, and medicinal properties of honey and honeybee by-products, including newly compounds/biological activities.
Task 1.2. Review of standard and emerging analytical methods for the analysis of honey and honeybee byproducts’ nutritional and medicinal properties.
Task 1.3. Compilation of published data on bee product origin and biomarkers to set up further strategies for determination of honey origin.
Task 1.4. New and emerging food and medical products obtained from honeybee and related by-products.
Task 1.5. Setting the criteria to establish standard analytical methods for the analysis of honey nutritional and medicinal properties; and to define quality criteria for labelling of honey products.
| SUB-WG | Description | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bee products analysis and authenticity | Soraia Falcão |
| 2 | Bioactive compounds with nutritional and medicinal benefits | Serdar Karakurt |
Carolina Nebot
Assistant professor in in Food Science and Nutrition
Leader
Laboratory of Hygiene, Inspection and Bromatology of the University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Terra, Lugo, Spain
WG e-mail:
Marco Garcia-Vaquero
Director of Food Science, Assistant Professor ad astra Fellow in Food Science and Nutrition
Co-leader
marco.garcia.vaquero@gmail.com
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Ireland
Soraia Falcao
Researcher
Leader in Sub-WG
Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
Serdart Karakurt
Professor
Leader in Sub-WG
Department of Biochemistry Selcuk University, Turkey
WG2
Biomonitoring of abiotic stressors or anthropogenic contaminants in the environment
The presence of contaminants in honey arising from anthropogenic activities (urbanization and agriculture practices) and their spreading through ecosystems is a problem that needs to be studied. Anthropogenic contaminants can have a significant effect on human health and wildlife biodiversity and, therefore, a direct and indirect effect on an ecosystem. One of the main assumptions is that the highest impacts on the honey production decline have chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers.
Other important environmental contaminants are pharmaceuticals, which are used both for animals and humans, and as such they are considered a global concern about the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Their combined effect resulting from the synergistic action of climate changes, different bee diseases, and environmental contaminants represent the stressors that seriously disturb the balance in the beehive community.
Honey and its related products are considered as bio-indicators of environmental contamination of metals and pesticides. The bee products such as pollen, honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, bee bread and bee brood are target matrices for contaminants from different environmental sources.
The aim of this working group is to perform environmental monitoring, collect specific chemical usage data, and provide easily accessible monitoring data.
The cooperation of different laboratories will enable the exchange of methodologies and the improvement of environmental pollution monitoring for different areas of expertise.
Task 2.1. Review on occurrence studies of anthropogenic contaminants in honeybees and their products: levels of contamination in different honeybee products from different regions.
Task 2.2. Selection of contaminants more prevalent and problematic, and honey-products more affected/contaminated to correlate contamination patterns and honey products geographic origin.
Task 2.3. Assessment of the modern methodologies for the identification of contaminants in beehive products.
Task 2.4. Food safety challenges related to honey and honeybee products and their importance depending on their origin.
Task 2.5. Implementation of a Geographic Information System (GIS) by organizing collected data in a specific database.
| SUB-WG | Description | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Review on occurrence studies of veterinary drugs in bee products | Ivana Varenina |
| 2 | Review on occurrence studies of commonly monitored contaminants (pesticides, heavy metals) in bee products | José Bernal del Nozal |
| 3 | Review on occurrence studies of other substances that do not affect bee colonies (PFAS, plasticizers) but can have a negative impact on consumers’ health | Jānis Ruško |
| 4 | Assessment of the modern methodologies | Marta Leite |
| 5 | Geographic Information System (GIS) platform | Nuno Capela |
Iveta Pugajeva
Leader
Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR, Latvia
Ivana Varenina
WG Co-leader and SUB-WG Leader
Croatian Veterinary Institute, Croatia
Jānis Ruško
SUB-WG Leader
Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR, Latvia
Marta Sofia Malheiro Leite
SUB-WG Leader
National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (INIAV), Portugal
WG3
Evaluation of prevalent diseases and biotic stressors that threat honeybee colonies - endemic and possible imported threats
The primary objectives of veterinary medicine in beekeeping align with the One Health approach, aiming to safeguard honeybee health. Key goals involve conducting regular meetings to address these objectives, providing training for veterinarians and aspiring apiculturists, enhancing international understanding of varied training methods in apiculture for veterinarians, establishing guidelines for Good Veterinary Practices in apiculture, fostering stronger bonds between the veterinary profession and beekeeping sector, and promoting responsible distribution and use of veterinary medicines.
Given the dynamic nature of beekeeping in agriculture, beekeepers must adhere to good practices encompassing veterinary medicines, disease management, and training. BeSafeBeeHoney will support beekeeping associations and individual beekeepers by offering expertise in the beekeeping sector.
The effectiveness of parasite and virus control in beekeeping and its integration in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) frameworks is a thriving and challenging theme in beekeeping research. A full comprehensive assessment of the diseases and biotic stressors, that may compromise honeybees ́ health and survival, including what may affect bees’ welfare, as well as new control strategies will be performed, and incorporated into the GIS platform to understand the European scenario and to establish standardized protocols on its control. It will also assess possible future threats related with international importation.
Task 3.1. Mapping of diseases and biotic stressors in European honeybee colonies, and assessment of crossover threats.
Task 3.2. Identification and characterization of subsequent implemented prevention and control strategies, national and international, including novel control agents for treatment in beekeeping.
Task 3.3. Evaluation of novel and emerging real time sensors that can be used for field pathogen detection by beekeepers in their honeybee colonies.
Task 3.4. Assessment of challenges in parasite/virus control in laboratory/research and regulatory/market.
Task 3.5. Data integration on the Geographic Information System (GIS) database.
| SUB-WG | Activity proposal | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlas of Honeybee Patologies | Karen Power |
| 2 | Identification and review of on-field and lab methods for early pathogen detection, infestation methods and their evaluation | Maja Smodiš Škerl |
| 3 | Collect all existing data on honeybee colony losses and weakening (diseases and pests) including data published in local journals and grey literature | Ivana Tlak Gajger |
| 4 | Role of Veterinary Medicine and practitioners in the beekeeping sector | Lucija Žvokelj |
| 5 | Education of different beekeeping sector stakeholders about honeybee diseases and pests | Lucija Žvokelj |
| 6 | Use of veterinary medicines in beekeeping and monitoring of hive products acaricide contamination | Lucija Žvokelj |
| 7 | Identification and review of electronic hives | Maja Smodiš Škerl |
| 8 | Effects of supplementary feeding on honeybee colonies health status and vitality | Pınar Tatli Seven |
Ivana Tlak Gajger
Leader and SUB-WG leader
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb /VEFUNIZG), Croatia
Maja Ivana Smodiš Škerl
Co-leader and SUB-WG leader
Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (KIS), Slovenia
Lucija Žvokelj
SUB-WG Leader
Veterinary Faculty University of Ljubljana (VF UL), Slovenia
Pınar Tatli Seven
SUB-WG Leader
Animal Nutrition - University of Firat, Faculty of Veterinary, Turkey
WG4
Honeybees as pollinators in agriculture: consequences of lost colonies in agrarian ecosystems
In this WG we are investigating the interactions between bees and agriculture. Bees are pollinating the crops of farmers, while farmers may use pesticides that are harmful to bees and could potentially contaminate bee products. This leads to a potential conflict between beekeepers and farmers.
One of our aims in this WG of BeSafeBeeHoney is to encourage the stakeholders involved in this conflict to engage in discussion about solutions and accompanied by scientific advisors. We additionally want to find out the opinions of the different stakeholders via questionnaires. Additionally, we want to summarize the current knowledge on the different interactions between agriculture and bees and the potential effects on bee products.
Task 4.1. Summarize current knowledge of interactions between agriculture and bees/bee products.
Task 4.2. Encourage stakeholders involved in the interactions to engage in discussion.
Task 4.3. Gather opinions of stakeholders on the interactions between bees and agriculture and potential conflicts.
Task 4.4. Work on solutions with stakeholders.
Task 4.5. Estimate the impact of agricultural pollutants on bee products.
| SUB-WG | Description | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interplay between different groups of stakeholders | Aleksandra Langowska |
| 2 | Consequences of lost bee colonies/wild bee populations | Filip Franeta |
| 3 | Literature and synthesis | Fabian A. Ruedenauer |
Fabian A. Ruedenauer
Leader and SUB-WG Leader
Technical University of Munich, Germany
Aleksandra Langowska
SUB-WG Leader
aleksandra.langowska@up.poznan.pl
Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
WG5
Biomonitoring of abiotic stressors or anthropogenic contaminants in the environment
Contribute to the design and formulation of European policies to promote the apiculture production, including the prevention, reduction and control of biotic and abiotic stressors to honeybees.
Provide environmental services useful to policy makers for setting and/or implementing beekeeping regulatory and management frameworks, necessary to enhance the sector performance.
Contribute to spreading information relevant to every participating country's governmental management of risk to pollinators, to evaluate the need for mitigation, and the types of mitigation options, as well as the educational or training resources used and needed to mitigate potential risk to insect pollinators.
The main goal will be to establish BeSafeBeeHoney recommendations of best practices related to production, market, research and policies, including achievements accomplished in the previous WGs, to delineate
- the design of new food and medical products obtained from honeybee (WG1); and
- provide policy and market recommendations based on the impacts of current abiotic and biotic stressors on environmental and public health (WG2 to WG4).
Recommendations will be made accessible to the public, including all stakeholders of the honey value chain, as an online platform, the BeeSafeQATool.
Task 5.1. Mapping of existing EU policies and national regulations regarding honey and related products as developed and categorized so far.
Task 5.2. Online survey to analyse the applicability of the beekeeping policies in place at international and national levels, including examples of their implementation in national legal frameworks.
Task 5.3. Assessment of the effect and use of current policies to support apiculture and the degree of implementation of the current policies’ recommendation and its effectiveness.
Task 5.4. Analyse the current market for honey, comprising European regions, including the degree of self-sufficiency, import and export, the market operators and other relevant market indicators and development of these indicators, including the loss of colonies.
Task 5.5. Develop recommendations of best practices related to production, market, research and policies, based on tasks 5.1 to 5.4 and the results of other WP’s for sustaining a further social and economic development and expansion of the European apiculture sector.
Task 5.6. Design a BeeSafeQATool to comfort the social and economic development and expansion of the European apiculture sector, with the purpose to make facts about apiculture and results of the action, including recommendations more widely accessible for all stakeholders including honey producers, researchers, lawmakers, consumers and other.
Meline Beglaryan
Co-leader
Center for Ecological-Noosphere Studies, National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Armenia
Aleksandra Langowska
Co-leader
aleksandra.langowska@up.poznan.pl
Poznań, University of Life Sciences, Department of Zoology, Poland
Adriana Urcan
Co-leader
University Of Agricultural Science And Veterinary Medicine, Romania
WG6
Coordination, dissemination, and stakeholder involvement
Communication and stakeholder involvement are fundamental parts of European research projects, so the activities and achievements of BeSafeBeeHoney should be widely spread, both to the general public, as well as specific target groups which could use the results of the Action for their future work.
The aim of this WG is to maximize the visibility and attractiveness of the Action. The development of a dialog with the scientific community, stakeholders, and public is one of the key points of this WG, as well as increase people’s motivation to use and apply evidence; and increase people’s ability to use and apply evidence.
Define and implement precise strategies for the dissemination, communication and valorisation of the results of the Action BeSafeBeeHoney.
It is intend to share results with potential users - peers in the research field, industry, other commercial players, farmers and farmer associations, agronomists and technicians, policymakers - and to contribute to the progress of scientific knowledge in beekeeping; while informing, promoting, and communicating the Action activities and results to reach out society, including the media and the public.
Finally, this WG focuses on creating social and economic value from knowledge and transforming scientific data, know-how and research results into sustainable products, services, solutions and knowledge-based policies that benefit society.
Task 6.1. Establishment of an effective communication plan/strategy between the different stakeholders.
Task 6.2. Website and social media profiles creation and continuous updates.
Task 6.3. Newsletter of the CA22105 to be delivered twice a year.
Task 6.4. International Conferences to promote stakeholder engagement and dissemination of the state-of-the-art, and to guarantee large scale dissemination through all interested public and create synergies to promote the continuation of the work started in the BeSafeBeeHoney CA.
Task 6.5. Define relevant changes and additions to create the BeSafeBeeHoney protocols.
| SUB-WG | Description | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Media | Ricardo Oliveira |
| 2 | “On-paper” dissemination | Science Communication team |
| 3 | In-person events | Jelena Ciric |
| 4 | Online events | Nemanja JOVANOVIC |
| 5 | Exploitation model & Stakeholder Engagement | Aleksandra Langowska |
Marta Leite
Leader
National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (INIAV), Portugal
Ricardo Oliveira
SUB-WG Leader
National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (INIAV), Portugal
Science Communication team (Coordinator: Giuseppa di Bella)
SUB-WG Leader
University of Messina, Italy
Aleksandra Langowska
SUB-WG Leader
aleksandra.langowska@up.poznan.pl
Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
Ivan Zlatanovic
SUB-WG Leader
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Serbia
Nemanja Jovanovic
SUB-WG Leader
jovanovicmvn@gmail.com
CES Engineering, Serbia
GRANTS & CALLS
-
STSMs
Short-Term Scientific Mission consists in a visit to a host organization located in a different country than the country of affiliation by a researcher or innovator for specific work to be carried out and for a determined period of time. This networking opportunity is constantly open, please see in the annotated rules what are the needed documents and eligibility criteria.
-
Training School (TS)
TS help achieve Action's MoU Objectives and deliver impact by:
Capacity Building:
Provide training on specialized topics essential for the Action.
Transfer know-how and build interdisciplinary expertise among researchers and innovators.
Research Coordination:
Achieve specific results (e.g., data collection, analysis, methodology training) supporting the COST Action's objectives.
The TS benefits include:
For Trainers:
Networking with colleagues and upcoming researchers.
Setting standards and shaping new knowledge areas.
Developing and improving teaching materials.
For Trainees:
Networking with peers and field leaders.
Gaining critical knowledge and skills for research.
Creating career opportunities.
-
ITC & Dissemination Conference Grants
Did you know?
Applications for ITC & Dissemination Conference Grants from CA22105 - BeSafeBeeHoney are always open!
What are ITC and Dissemination Conference Grants?
Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC) Conference Grants are financial support for Young Researchers and Innovators affiliated in an Inclusiveness Target Country / Near Neighbour Country* for their participation in high-level conferences that are not organised by COST Actions. The grantee receives support for attending and presenting their work (poster/oral presentation) at a conference and can establish new contacts for future collaborations within the scope of the Cost Action project.
Dissemination Conference Grants are financial support to Action participant for their participation in high-level conferences that are not organised by COST Actions to present the Action, their activities, and/or results (oral presentation) of the Cost Action activities.
How to apply?
Applications for ITC and Dissemination Conference Grants are first submitted on the e-COST website: https://e-services.cost.eu/user/login
To be filled in e-COST:
• Title of the presentation
• Conference title, date (within the active Grant Period) and venue;
• Budget requested;
• Attendance Type (face to face or virtual)
To be uploaded to e-COST:
• Application form (template available on e-COST) describing: Alignment with the Action Science Communication plan and Expected impact to the COST Action.
• Copy of the abstract of the accepted oral presentation focused on promoting the scientific achievements and activities being performed by the COST Action;
• Acceptance (or invitation) letter from the conference organizers;
• Curriculum vitae
For more information, you can email our Grant Awarding Coordinator - Dr Jelena ĆIRIĆ (jelena.ciric@inmes.rs).
-
WORKSHOP Systematic Review 19th September 2024
Description:
A systematic review can be defined as a detailed and comprehensive plan and search strategy that uses reproducible and rigorous methods to systematically search and synthetize a particular research question. In this workshop, the process on how to conduct a systematic review will include a theoretical part concerning the formulation of an answerable research question, definition of inclusion and exclusion criteria, and search tools for the evidence; and a practical part where the trainees will be in contact with systematic review platforms for article selection on a specific research question previously defined.
Outcomes:
Data collection is an extensive systematized procedure that allows to gather information towards the response to primary questions, thus permitting to analyse current information about a specific topic, and consequently formulating strategies to overcome practices’ gaps, to improve existing methods or procedures, and to implement new approaches. This workshop will therefore guarantee that the trainees will be capable of delineating a data collection plan for application of a specific systematized procedure, ultimately aiming at a complete assessment of emerging contaminants in honey. Specifically, trainees will be able to:
Recognize the research design of a systematic review
Recognize the importance of using precise and accurate methods to conduct literature review
Identify review questions and the elements of a well-defined review question
Understand each step of the systematic review
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Venue: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Belgrade, room 211. Address: Kraljice Marije 16, 11000 Belgrade
Costs: Applications will be selected to be reimbursed in accordance with COST rules. The expenses covered includes the long-distance travel (maximum of 500€) and a daily allowance (100 euros per day), according to the COST reimbursement rules. However, more places are available for self-funded or local participants.
Each applicant will need to provide a motivation letter, updated CV and, if relevant, document confirming student status (except for those that already applied for the TS – in that case you should only send an e-mail claiming to participate in the workshop). You should send an email to register in the workshop to: besafeboohoney@gmail.com (Subject title: Workshop).
Registration deadline: 9th August, 2024
Travel guide: Transfer options from Belgrade airport Nikola Tesla to venue Faculty of Mechanical Engineering:
Taxi – duration: 30-40 minutes (depending on the traffic). AeroTaxi https://aerotaxi-connect.rs/ , you can book the transfer online. Minimal Fare: is 2.300 rsd (20 euros from the airport to Belgrade city centre or Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Public transport – duration: 50 minutes. Take the A1 bus from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport to Slavia square, then the tram Number 2 to Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Private transfer from and to Airport: If you would like to book a private transfer you can do it through our Travel Agency by sending a request to: mirjana@kongresniturizam.com. The price is 40 euros per transfer and you can connect it with one more accompanied colleague who is on the same flight. The driver will be waiting for you near the exit door with your name and surname.
Airline tickets: the best option is to reserve them through our Travel agency so they can take care of all the necessary things for your stay. Special prices are available as well. Requests on: mirjana@kongresniturizam.com
Currency: Currency used in Serbia is RSD (Dinars) exchange rate is approximately 1 EUR = 117.50 RSD, exchange offices are clearly marked around city and you can exchange euros there or withdraw dinars from ATM machines. Payments can be done in cash or by credit cards in all shops, restaurants and coffee shops.
Hotel Recommendation: Please find some hotel recommendations that are within walking distance from the venue. If you would like to book through our partner travel and event agency BS Events with special rates for our meeting please contact mirjana@kongresniturizam.com and they will make a booking for you at discounted rates by the current availability. Belgrade city centre main pedestrian area Knez Mihajlova street is about 25min walking distance from Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Hotel name Special rates for our meeting
Constantine The Great****
https://www.constantinethegreatbelgrade.com/
105 eur single room BB /
115 eur double room BB
Nobel Palace Belgrade****
https://nobelpalace.rs/ 85 eur single room BB /
95 eur double room BB
Balkan Hotel Garni
https://garni.rs/ 80 eur double room BB
Hotel Livnica
https://hotel-livnica.com/ 50-70 eur double room BB
Hotel Rex
http://m.hotelrex-belgrade.com/ 45-50 eur double room BB
Hotel Sterling
https://sterling.worhot.com/ 44 eur double room BB
Student/teachers Hostel “King Aleksandar I”
Address: Boulevard King Alexander 75, Belgrade
konakkraljaleksandar@gmail.com
35 eur single room BB /
24 eur double room BB
Student/teachers Hostel “Studentski grad”
Address: Tošin Bunar 145, Belgrade
hostelstudentskigrad@yahoo.com
33 eur single room BB /
20 eur double room BB
Weather information: In September, Belgrade, Serbia experiences mild and pleasant weather. The average high temperature is around 24.5°C, while the average low temperature drops to about 13.5°C in the evenings. Humidity levels are moderate, averaging around 59-67%, and the city enjoys about 9 hours of sunshine each day, contributing to a generally pleasant and comfortable climate. This makes September a great time to visit Belgrade, as the weather is conducive to exploring the city's attractions and enjoying outdoor activities. Weather is unfortunately becoming more and more unpredictable so temperatures can be significantly higher than this, for more precise forecast we recommend to check weather sites 7 days prior to travel.
LOCAL ORGANIZER CONTACTS
Ivan Zlatanović, izlatanovic@mas.bg.ac.rs, phone: +38162295094
Miloš Milošević, mixmilosevic@gmail.com, phone: +38162295748
IMPORTANT NOTE !
The prices shown in this document are from April 2024, and may change until the date of the training school in September.
-
SUMMER SCHOOL on analytical tools for contaminants in honey and honey by-products
BELGRADE - Draft agenda
First day of the training -16th Sep, room 211 opening ceremony, room 513,
Second day of the training - 17th Sep, room 513 & field visit
Final day of the training 18th Sep, room 513 & field visit
TRAINING INFORMATION
The main goal of this training school will be the creation and transfer of key knowledge on risk assessment procedures in the honey value chain.
The trainees will gain knowledge and practical skills in analytical tools for determination of contaminants in complex matrices, since sample preparation techniques to LC-MS detection, and how to concept, design, implement and assess the risk of human exposure to such contaminants. As output, it is expected to promote a scale-up career development and the idea of interdisciplinary research when it comes to joining honey and by-products production, their nutritional and medicinal properties in correlation with the main threats that honeybee colonies are facing and might be in the near future along with the impact that those situations can create in agro-systems.
The program includes three days of practical exercises and lectures. The detailed program will be provided to registered participants in due time. Participants will be welcomed in ceremonial hall No. 211, where the project presentation and opening ceremony will take place. The training will be held on the fifth floor of the faculty in room No. 513, which has all the necessary infrastructure for presentations, as well as space for participants to use their laptops and the Internet. The faculty restaurant is also located on the same floor.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Venue: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Belgrade, room 211. Address: Kraljice Marije 16, 11000 Belgrade
Costs: 20 participants will be selected, among the applications, to be reimbursed in accordance with COST rules. The expenses covered includes the long-distance travel (maximum of 350€) and a daily allowance (80 euros per day of three TS days), according to the COST reimbursement rules. However, more places are available for self-funded or local participants.
Each applicant will need to provide a motivation letter, updated CV and, if relevant, document confirming student status uploaded to the registration form. You should apply to the TS through the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdP0Lc-ThrNyaaKtz38xllI-HwcF4Q8ZCStBnzzP6vfdRBeXw/viewform?usp=sf_link
Registration deadline: 22nd July, 2024
Travel guide: Transfer options from Belgrade airport Nikola Tesla to venue Faculty of Mechanical Engineering:
Taxi – duration: 30-40 minutes (depending on the traffic). AeroTaxi https://aerotaxi-connect.rs/ , you can book the transfer online. Minimal Fare: is 2.300 rsd (20 euros from the airport to Belgrade city centre or Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Public transport – duration: 50 minutes. Take the A1 bus from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport to Slavia square, then the tram Number 2 to Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Private transfer from and to Airport: If you would like to book a private transfer you can do it through our Travel Agency by sending a request to: mirjana@kongresniturizam.com. The price is 40 euros per transfer and you can connect it with one more accompanied colleague who is on the same flight. The driver will be waiting for you near the exit door with your name and surname.
Airline tickets: the best option is to reserve them through our Travel agency so they can take care of all the necessary things for your stay. Special prices are available as well. Requests on: mirjana@kongresniturizam.com
Currency: Currency used in Serbia is RSD (Dinars) exchange rate is approximately 1 EUR = 117.50 RSD, exchange offices are clearly marked around city and you can exchange euros there or withdraw dinars from ATM machines. Payments can be done in cash or by credit cards in all shops, restaurants and coffee shops.
Hotel Recommendation: Please find some hotel recommendations that are within walking distance from the venue. If you would like to book through our partner travel and event agency BS Events with special rates for our meeting please contact mirjana@kongresniturizam.com and they will make a booking for you at discounted rates by the current availability. Belgrade city centre main pedestrian area Knez Mihajlova street is about 25min walking distance from Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Hotel name Special rates for our meeting
Constantine The Great****
https://www.constantinethegreatbelgrade.com/
105 eur single room BB /
115 eur double room BB
Nobel Palace Belgrade****
https://nobelpalace.rs/ 85 eur single room BB /
95 eur double room BB
Balkan Hotel Garni
https://garni.rs/ 80 eur double room BB
Hotel Livnica
https://hotel-livnica.com/ 50-70 eur double room BB
Hotel Rex
http://m.hotelrex-belgrade.com/ 45-50 eur double room BB
Hotel Sterling
https://sterling.worhot.com/ 44 eur double room BB
Student/teachers Hostel “King Aleksandar I”
Address: Boulevard King Alexander 75, Belgrade
konakkraljaleksandar@gmail.com
35 eur single room BB /
24 eur double room BB
Student/teachers Hostel “Studentski grad”
Address: Tošin Bunar 145, Belgrade
hostelstudentskigrad@yahoo.com
33 eur single room BB /
20 eur double room BB
Weather information: In September, Belgrade, Serbia experiences mild and pleasant weather. The average high temperature is around 24.5°C, while the average low temperature drops to about 13.5°C in the evenings. Humidity levels are moderate, averaging around 59-67%, and the city enjoys about 9 hours of sunshine each day, contributing to a generally pleasant and comfortable climate. This makes September a great time to visit Belgrade, as the weather is conducive to exploring the city's attractions and enjoying outdoor activities. Weather is unfortunately becoming more and more unpredictable so temperatures can be significantly higher than this, for more precise forecast we recommend to check weather sites 7 days prior to travel.
LOCAL ORGANIZER CONTACTS
Ivan Zlatanović, izlatanovic@mas.bg.ac.rs, phone: +38162295094
Miloš Milošević, mixmilosevic@gmail.com, phone: +38162295748
IMPORTANT NOTE !
The prices shown in this document are from April 2024, and may change until the date of the training school in September.
CALLS FOR COOPERATION
-
Mapping of current international and national policies towards a thriving apiculture
THE SITUATION
There are wide variations in countries’ honey consumption and production*
BeSafeBeeHoney countries with the lowest and highest honey consumption per capita per year:
* There is a high correlation between consumption and production.
THE GOAL
We would like to understand if the differences between countries are caused by policies (including laws, regulations, statutory orders, standards, subsidy schemes)?
MAPPING POLICIES
Within the frame of WG5, we organised a survey to identify examples of policies that are positive or negative for the apiculture sector.
The thesis is that high production and consumption of honey is correlated with favourable policies.
Analysed results will be presented and discussed in the WG5 meetings.
We also plan to use the results for preparation of policy recommendations.
We would like to have your perspectives on this, and it is easy to participate - go to https://tinyurl.com/3stkyhfh or click the QR code here:
For any enquiries about this poster or the policy survey, please contact WG5 Leader, Mr. Henning Lyngsø FOGED, ORGANE, henning@organe.dk, mob. +45 6141 5441.
Please respond to the survey yourself. We would also be glad if you would ask others to respond, for instance encourage beekeeping associations in your country to respond.
PHOTO GALLERY
First International Conference BeSafeBeeHoney
CONTACT
CA22105 general e-mail:
Be part of your WG of interest and join us!
Are you interested in joining one of our Working Groups?
BesafeBeeHoney always welcome new participants and all stakeholders willing to be active in our COST Action:
https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA22105/
Bee photos were kindly provided by Filip Franeta
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.
