Biological sciences and agriculture research associate, Dr. Shelley Hoover is a dedicated beekeeper of over 20 years. She sits as the current president of the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists
“The entire shape of the ecosystem is dependent on the interactions between pollinators and plants that allow plants to set seed and then exist across our landscape,”
explains Hoover. She describes honey bees as nano-livestock, an introduced species akin to pigs or cattle; they would not survive in Alberta without the dedicated help of beekeepers. Beekeeping is an essential agricultural activity in Canada, with 70 per cent of honey bee colonies in Canada located on the prairies. Farmers in Alberta produce almost a third of all Canadian honey, and the value of pollinating activities is far greater.