Honey Bee Health Strategy.

The Honey Bee Heath Strategy (2010-2020) provides a plan of action aimed at sustaining the health of honey bees and beekeeping in Scotland for the next decade.
The aim of the Strategy is to achieve a sustainable and healthy population of honey bees for pollination and honey production in Scotland through strengthened partnership working between stakeholders with interests in honey bees.
The Strategy describes the four main outcomes which provide the focus for future action and development by all those with an interest in honey bees including the Scottish Government, its agencies and delivery bodies, stakeholder associations and most importantly, individual beekeepers. The main underlying principle of these outcomes is that prevention is better than cure. The outcomes also encapsulate the objectives that stakeholders are looking to achieve and comprise: 1) Education, Training and Knowledge Transfer: good standards of beekeeping and husbandry will minimise pest and disease risks and contribute to sustaining healthy honey bee populations. 2) Communication: effective communication and relationships operating at all levels. 3) Surveillance, Diagnosis and Biosecurity: positive surveillance based on vigilance, reporting and diagnosis. 4) Research and Development: sound science and evidence underpinning bee health policy, disease prevention and control, and good husbandry.