PoshBee Horizon 2020 Project Annual Meeting Marseille 2020

The PoshBee project, funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme (grant No 773921), held its 2020 annual meeting in Marseille, France, from 14 to 16 January. Over 80 stakeholders, including scientists, beekeepers, farmers, and researchers, gathered to present findings, share field data, and advance protocols for assessing bee health across eight European countries. Key outcomes included the establishment of a pan-European network of field sites, standardisation of research methods, and in-depth analysis of pesticide impacts on honey bees and wild bee species. The project, led by Professor Mark Brown of Royal Holloway University of London, investigates the combined effects of pesticides, pathogens, and nutritional stress on pollinator health. Results from laboratory and semi-field studies, including on sulfoxaflor, informed risk assessment models. The project also advanced novel wild bee models and passive air sampling techniques for hive contaminants. Findings will support science-based policies for sustainable pollination in Europe.