Honey Bee Health Initiative

For Ontario beekeepers facing increasing pressure from pests, disease, and winter losses, keeping colonies healthy has become both a biological and business priority. The Honey Bee Health Initiative was created to help strengthen hive health and long-term sustainability across the province’s beekeeping sector. Delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association as part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the program supports practical investments that improve day-to-day operations and protect honey bee populations.

The initiative focuses on projects that reduce biosecurity risks and help manage or prevent the spread of pests and disease within beekeeping operations. Funding support can help offset the cost of upgrading or modifying equipment and facilities, adopting best management practices, conducting pest and disease sampling, or introducing new honey bee stock and queens to improve colony strength and genetic diversity. Support is available to both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers, with larger contributions available for registered commercial operations. The funding is non-repayable and structured as a cost-share, making it easier to move forward with improvements that might otherwise be delayed.

Due to strong interest from Ontario’s beekeeping community, the Honey Bee Health Initiative has been fully subscribed and is not currently accepting applications, though similar intakes may reopen in the future. For beekeepers who want to understand how this program works, what types of projects are supported, and how to prepare for future opportunities, exploring the full details through GrantHub can help you plan ahead.