Beekeeping Department

Beekeeping is an important sector of the agro-industrial complex, playing a key role in ensuring food security, preserving biological diversity, and possessing significant export potential. Beekeeping products are valuable biologically active substances widely used in medicine, pharmaceuticals, and the food industry. However, the primary importance of honeybees lies in increasing crop yields and improving the quality of agricultural products through the pollination of entomophilous plants: vegetables, berries, orchards, fodder and industrial crops.

Despite the strategic importance of the industry, for a long time scientific research in the field of beekeeping did not receive adequate attention. Information on previously conducted studies was limited, and the implementation of scientific developments into practice was sporadic. This necessitated the creation of a specialized scientific division capable of conducting comprehensive research and developing solutions that address both theoretical objectives and practical needs of agribusiness entities.

The question of creating a specialized department engaged in research and development activities in the field of beekeeping was discussed at various levels of the professional community. As a result, a well-argued initiative was prepared, addressed to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, proposing the creation of a specialized division on the basis of the Kazakh Research Institute of Livestock and Foraging. The proposal was submitted to the Ministry in July 2019.

In February 2020, by the decision of the Institute's academic council, an order was approved to establish the "Beekeeping" department. The official founding date of the department is March 3, 2020. Qualified research staff with experience and expertise in various areas of beekeeping were included in the new division. The conceptual framework of the department was developed and its key activities were defined:

To develop and implement effective technologies for breeding, keeping, feeding and caring for honeybee colonies; participation in organizing specialized veterinary services for the treatment and prevention of diseases; to develop and recommend for production medicines and preparations that do not disrupt the ecology of the bee colony.

In the field of pollination activities, to promote the role of honeybees in pollinating entomophilous agricultural crops. To develop a regulatory and legal framework for the rational use of bee colonies, to introduce an expanded range of pollination services for entomophilous crops, orchards, vegetable and berry plantations.

In the field of honeybee selection — research on the gene pool of indigenous and zoned bee breeds, based on morphometric, genetic, and statistical methods of analysis. Distribution of breeding products (material) for agricultural producers with further support within the framework of the Breeding Development Plan. Conducting instrumental insemination of queen bees. Organization of automated workstations in the Apislab program for determining the breed composition of bees.

After the establishment of the department, the development of prospective scientific and technical programs for 2021–2023 began, including modern technologies in beekeeping, selection and breeding work.

The creation of the "Beekeeping" department was an important step in the development of a scientific approach to this industry and opened opportunities for comprehensively addressing current challenges of modern agribusiness.