Expansion complete at NBDC

Grande Prairie Regional College researchers have settled into the newly-expanded National Bee Diagnostic Centre at the Beaverlodge Research Farm.
 
The new space is more than three times the size of the old one.
 
Acting Manager Patricia Wolf Viega says more room was needed.
 
“We were very packed in the old space here. We almost didn’t have space for work on the bench, we had equipment just laid out all over. With that (expansion), we are able to expand our lab space. We could have more equipment and be able to have more people working at the same time.”
 
She adds the new space will allow the Centre to triple the number of diagnostic tests it does from 20,000 to 60,000 per year.
 
“We test for the most common pests, pathogens, and parasites that affect honeybees. There are tests that include nosema levels and Nosema species identification (nosema is a single-cell parasite), mites, as well as bacterial disease”
 
There is also work being done on both American and European foulbrood, diseases where bacteria attack and kill bee larvae that are under three days old.
 
Wolf Viega says the Centre is open for business.
 
“We are receiving samples for diagnostics for beekeepers. We are performing some of the tests for our own research, but we are open for business and beekeepers are already sending samples, because they need to be ready of the fall treatment, so we are open and receiving samples.”  
 
Ag. Canada researchers are expected to move in soon. An agreement still needs to be finalized.