Case Studies

EM Pilot Test in Honeybee Colonies

Argentina
Country:
Argentina
Category:
Agriculture
Tag:
Low Cost
EM Pilot Test in Honeybee Colonies

Pilot Test Overview and Objective

This pilot test was lauched by Campo Rural and PROFAM Group in Argentina who learnt on the benefits of EM Technology.
The proposal was to replace antibiotics such as oxytetracyclines, which can generate dangerous residue (nitrofurans that severely limited the market during 2003-2004, that had oxytetracyclines origin). 
They consider the fact that applying antibiotics removes all kinds of bacteria, exposing beehives to fungal infection and virus.
Therefore, they wanted to observe the effects of EM・1 on healthy and affected beehive mainly by American foulbrood, Nosemosis and other disease that limit normal evolution of the colony.
They launched a series of tests using EM・1 and evaluate its results after testing for several seasons and in different conditions.
Materials

- Sugar cane (sucrose)
- Levudex (Corn syrup high in fructose derived from corn starch, containing about 26-29% of water, 36% of fructose and 33% of glucose)
- Water
- EM・1
- Beehives for testing

Product Activation

- Dilute the sugar in water and pour it into the container (they used two different concentrations with two different types of sugar). 
- Add EM・1 into the container with the mixture of water and sugar mentioned before. 
- Add water to fill the container and mix well.
- Keep the solution for a week to ferment in anaerobic conditions. 
- Check change of color, smell (sower sweet) and pH below 3.5.

 
Results and Advantages

- Before EM・1 application, the apiary was infected with Nosemosis by 60% in high levels and American foulbrood by 33%. 
After the second application, infection impact reduced to 3.33% in Nosemosis and 0% in American foulbrood. 
This demonstrates that EM・1 has a bactericidal action. 

Before EM Application



After 3 EM Application



Comparative Graph



- This product could be used permanently while antibiotics should be suspended for approximately two months before honeydew.
- Cost is comparatively lower than other antibiotics used in beekeeping.
- It is a no residue product. An overdose of antibiotics is dangerous since it can pass to honey.
- Not cause drug resistance because EM is living organisms.


(Updated on August, 2018)

 

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