About The Apiary Project
The Apiary Project advances bee welfare through rigorous research, comprehensive education, and evidence-based advocacy. Established in 2024, we've become a leading voice in pollinator conservation and sustainable beekeeping practices across North America.
Our Mission
We document, analyze, and share knowledge about bees and beekeeping to support both colony health and pollinator conservation. Through independent research, equipment testing, and regional monitoring programs, we provide the information needed to make informed decisions that benefit bees.
What We Do
Independent Research & Analysis
We conduct original research on beekeeping equipment, pollinator populations, and conservation effectiveness. Our testing programs evaluate products across multiple categories, examining durability, bee welfare impact, and real-world performance. We purchase all equipment through normal retail channels and accept no manufacturer compensation.
Our pollinator monitoring network tracks population trends across eight US ecological zones, documenting species abundance, habitat quality, and threat patterns. This multi-year data collection informs our conservation recommendations and industry reports.
Industry Standards Development
Through systematic testing and analysis, we establish equipment quality benchmarks and best practice guidelines. Our work helps beekeepers evaluate products objectively and supports manufacturers in understanding performance standards that prioritize bee welfare.
Education & Resources
We maintain comprehensive documentation of beekeeping practices, bee biology, and conservation strategies. Our resources serve everyone from first-time hobbyists to commercial operators, presenting complex information in accessible formats without sacrificing accuracy or nuance.
Conservation Advocacy
We advocate for policies and practices that support pollinator health at local, state, and federal levels. Our advocacy draws directly from our research findings, ensuring recommendations reflect evidence rather than ideology.
Our Approach
Evidence-Based
Every recommendation, analysis, and position we publish stems from documented research, field trials, or established scientific literature. We cite sources, acknowledge uncertainties, and revise positions when new evidence emerges.
Independent
We maintain independence from equipment manufacturers, chemical companies, and industry groups. This independence allows us to present findings objectively, even when results challenge conventional practices or commercial interests.
Comprehensive
Bee welfare and pollinator conservation involve interconnected systems. Our research considers these complexities, examining how equipment choices, management practices, environmental factors, and policy decisions interact to influence outcomes.
Accessible
Technical accuracy need not require impenetrable jargon. We present research findings clearly while respecting the intelligence of our audience and the complexity of the subjects we address.
Regional Programs
Our regional monitoring initiatives track pollinator health across distinct ecological zones. These programs combine systematic population surveys, habitat assessments, and climate tracking to document trends and evaluate conservation effectiveness.
Current monitoring sites operate in:
- New England temperate forests
- Southeast coastal plains
- Midwest agricultural corridors
- Great Plains grasslands
- Rocky Mountain highlands
- Southwest desert regions
- Pacific Northwest rainforests
- California Mediterranean zones
Data from these programs informs our annual State of Pollinator Health reports and contributes to broader scientific understanding of pollinator population dynamics.
Research Partnerships
We collaborate with universities, conservation organizations, and government agencies on research projects that advance pollinator knowledge. These partnerships expand research capacity while ensuring our work integrates with broader scientific and conservation communities.
Our research has been cited by academic institutions, referenced in policy discussions, and utilized by conservation groups planning habitat restoration projects.
Annual Reports
Each year we publish comprehensive analyses of beekeeping trends, equipment standards, and pollinator population status. These reports synthesize data from our monitoring programs, survey responses from thousands of beekeepers, and equipment testing results.
Download current and archived reports from our Research & Reports section.
Our Values
Bee Welfare First - Every analysis and recommendation prioritizes the health and welfare of bee populations, both managed and wild.
Scientific Rigor - We maintain high standards for research methodology, data collection, and analysis. Findings undergo review before publication.
Transparency - We document our methods, acknowledge limitations, and publish both positive and negative findings. Cherry-picking data to support predetermined conclusions violates our research integrity.
Inclusivity - Beekeeping and pollinator conservation benefit from diverse perspectives and approaches. We welcome participation from people of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Long-term Perspective - Meaningful conservation and sustainable beekeeping require commitment measured in decades, not seasons. Our work reflects this extended timeline.
Funding
The Apiary Project operates as an independent organization supported through a combination of educational content, equipment reviews, and conservation grants. We maintain editorial independence in all research and analysis.
Equipment reviews may include affiliate links to support our testing programs and ongoing research. These relationships never influence testing protocols, results, or recommendations.
Get Involved
Whether you're a beekeeper, conservation advocate, researcher, or simply interested in pollinators, there are multiple ways to engage with our work:
- Subscribe to Monthly Hive Notes for regular updates and research findings
- Participate in our annual beekeeping surveys to inform industry analysis
- Share our resources with others interested in bee welfare
- Support conservation initiatives in your local area
- Advocate for pollinator-friendly policies at all government levels
Contact Us
Questions about our research? Interested in partnerships? Need specific information about beekeeping or conservation?
Visit our contact page to reach our team. We respond to all inquiries, though research and fieldwork schedules may occasionally delay responses.
The Apiary Project
Advancing bee welfare through education and advocacy
Established 2024