We love nothing more than pure honey. And we know that the best honey starts with happy bees and healthy hives. For years, we’ve supported leading universities to champion pioneering honey bee research. We are proud to lock arms with some of the brightest bee and honey lovers across the country and excited to shine a spotlight on some of their crucial work and share how it’s shaping the beekeeping industry.  

Cornell University 

For the fifth consecutive year, we’ve invested in the work of the Department of Entomology, part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. 

Many of the department’s programs support the research of honey bee health under its Pollinator Network, a multidisciplinary group of researchers, extension personnel and students that work to understand wild and managed pollinators and help beekeepers address real-world problems.   

In June 2023, for example, the department published a research report on neonicotinoids, a harmful class of insecticides that poses a risk to the honey bee population and honey supply. The research is shaping New York State policy on the use of pesticides, called the “Birds and the Bees Act.”  If the governor passes the act later this year, New York will be the first state in the U.S. to restrict neonicotinoid seed treatments on corn and soybeans. 

Also, the Cornell-led New York State Beekeeper Tech Team recently published a report showing how they work closely with beekeepers throughout the state to improve honey bee health, reduce colony losses and increase profitability and viability of the beekeeping industry. The report shows how beekeepers can monitor more frequently for varroa mites, an invasive and destructive external parasite. With more-frequent monitoring, beekeepers can recognize when varroa levels are above threshold and to treat the mites accordingly. This is leading to fewer colony losses among Tech Team beekeepers across New York. 

The University of California, Davis 

Situated on the gleaming West Coast, the Honey and Pollination Center at the University of California, Davis has more than just a beautiful campus. The Center, situated within the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, seeks to better understand how honey adulteration affects beekeepers, honey production and, ultimately, our food system. UC Davis’ Department of Entomology and Nematology has been ranked number-one nationally and continues to lead the way in agricultural innovation and sustainability, in part by promoting pollinator-related research and conferences. 

This year, the university began a massive project: the start of a Honey Floral Source Library. The tool helps educators and honey lovers understand what each floral source looks like and where in the world it might be found. 

The University of Texas, Dallas 

Our friendship and partnership with the University of Texas at Dallas is an important part of the Nate’s story. For years, Nate’s and UT Dallas have worked together to support bee health, sustainability and the protection of pollinators.  

As an affiliate of Bee Campus USA, UT Dallas has developed eight acres of its campus into a no-mow zone to encourage the growth of native prairie grasses and pollinator-friendly plant species. Also, the university plants flora to create breeding grounds and food sources for native pollinators, supporting their crucial role in maintaining flowering and food-producing plants. 

The university also takes a hands-on approach to encouraging the next generation of beekeepers. Dr. Scott Rippel, the department’s apiologist, teaches Honey Bee Biology, which allows students to learn about the lives of bees and gain experience within the campus apiaries.  

Long Live the Bees 

Nate’s is proud to work with such incredible researchers, biologists and other scientists and naturalists across the country for a positive impact on our ecosystems and work toward a world where honey bees are healthy. For more about our mission to make an impact, visit: https://www.naturenates.com/long-live-the-bees/.