Honey bees vital for Canadian agriculture face threats from disease and stress.

Honey bees are crucial for Canadian agriculture, pollinating key crops like hybrid canola, sunflowers, and berries, contributing approximately $7 billion annually to the economy. However, the Western honey bee (Apis Mellifera) faces threats from diseases and environmental factors, particularly due to climate change. Dr. Nuria Morfin, an assistant professor in entomology at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, has received a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant to investigate how microbial communities affect honey bee health.