FREE-B: Studying FREE-living honey Bee colonies in Europe: nature-based solutions to safeguard diversity, ensure resilience, and promote transformative change in beekeeping – FreeB

FREE-B is a groundbreaking initiative focused on studying free-living honey bee colonies (FLCs) in Europe. It addresses critical issues related to anthropogenic stressors, genetic diversity, bodiversity conservation, and solutions for more sustainable beekeeping. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) have long been valued as essential pollinators in European ecosystems, playing a crucial role in biodiversity and our food supply chain. But their mortality rates are alarming, ranging from 7–34% in Europe in 2019–2020. While these figures relate to populations managed by beekeepers, we know very little about the wild cohort, whose current IUCN Red List conservation status is "Data Deficient." FREE-B aims to fill that knowledge gap by exploring the existence and resilience of FLCs, so that we can harness their potential for transformative change in the beekeeping sector. Primary objectives are to discover where FLCs exist in Europe and what mechanisms enable their survival through natural selection. We will examine biological, behavioural, and environmental factors contributing to their resilience, via six work packages, each of which possesses specific goals: WP1. Discovery and spatial distribution of FLCs across Europe: To identify the locations of FLCs through citizen science, collaboration with beekeepers, and the development of a dedicated website with mapping tools. WP2. Monitoring of FLC survival and effects of climate on critical population demographics: To assess critical population demographics, such as occupation rate, density, and survival in FLCs through standardised field monitoring and impacts of climate. WP3. Application of genomic and phenotypic approaches to assess diversity patterns and adaptation in FLCs: To apply genomic technologies to colonies from both free-living and managed hives to explore genetic differences and their relationship to survival. WP4. Impact of parasites, pathogens, and pollen diversity on the survival of FLCs: To understand the impact of environmental factors, diseases, and parasites on survival in FLCs compared to managed colonies. WP5. Nature-based solutions with sociopolitical impacts: To implement "survivor stock" transfer experiments, to compile a database of legislation related to the handling of FLCs, to promote conservation and integration of FLCs into breeding programmes. WP6. Stakeholder engagement: To effectively communicate both within the project team and with external stakeholders to raise awareness about FREE-B, engage beekeepers and citizen scientists, disseminate findings, and influence policymakers. By combining multidisciplinary research and collaboration across partner institutions, FREE-B aims to develop nature-based solutions to conserve honey bee diversity and reshape beekeeping practices in Europe, ultimately ensuring the well-being of this vital species and promoting transformative change in the beekeeping sector.