Sustainable Beekeeping: Strategies for Enhancing Bee Stress Resistance

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2025 | Viewed by 44

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Interests: apiculture; bee nutrition; bee biology; bee pathogen/pest control; bee product; quality and safety; apicultural sustainability

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Interests: Apis cerana stress resistance; environmental pollution; honeybee biology; honeybee products

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Interests: sustainable beekeeping; gut microbiota; pollinator nutrition; Varroa mite control; honeybee health

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (Co-Construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Interests: honeybee; ecology; ethology; molecular biology; Varroa mite control; integrated pest management; environmental stress; drug resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Honeybees, indispensable pollinators underpinning global biodiversity and food security, face escalating threats from habitat destruction, agrochemical exposure, climate disruption, and parasitic mite. Historically, beekeeping prioritized yield, but practice has shown that this exacerbates colony collapse, demanding urgent innovation in sustainability-oriented apiculture. This Special Issue systematically explores the key factors affecting bee health by integrating the latest research advances across multiple disciplines—including nutrition, physiology, ecology, genetics, technology, behavior, and socioeconomics—and proposes a comprehensive strategy to enhance bees’ stress resistance in response to the ecological and agricultural crises caused by their global decline.

We seek interdisciplinary contributions highlighting cutting-edge research in sustainable solutions. We are interested in technology-driven solutions for hive health monitoring and nutritional optimization, as well as studies that enhance the value of bee products through nutritional profiling, bioactive compound extraction, and standardized quality and safety protocols. Additionally, we encourage contributions on field-validated sustainable apicultural practices, such as breeding programs for disease and climate resilience, and precision-guided pest management strategies that are integrated with improved crop pollination efficiency.

Submissions exploring socioeconomic models that support the development of the beekeeping industry, policy incentives, and supply chain sustainability are also welcome. Submissions addressing socio-economic models that support resilient apicultural markets, policy incentives, and supply chain sustainability are equally welcome. We also invite analyses of policy frameworks that promote pollinator conservation, aiming to advance ethical and scalable approaches that ensure bee health, ecosystem stability, and the long-term viability of apicultural value chains.

Dr. Ying Wang
Dr. Xuepeng Chi
Dr. Rongfang Wang
Dr. Zhenguo Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

  • sustainable beekeeping
  • bee stress resistance
  • mite control
  • climate resilience
  • precision apiculture
  • pollinator nutrition
  • hive monitoring
  • genetic selection

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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