University of Georgia expands veterinary training to include honey bee medicine

The University of Georgia is expanding its veterinary training to include honey bee medicine, addressing a critical threat to agricultural stability. Veterinary students are learning to examine hives for signs of disease, such as withered wings, discolored larvae, or mites, which can jeopardize the food supply.

Honey bees are essential to agriculture, pollinating crops valued at approximately $15 billion annually, including over 130 types of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. However, bee populations face significant threats from parasites, pathogens, pesticides, malnutrition, and climate change. In the 2024-2025 season, the United States lost more than half of its managed honey bee colonies.

Jörg Mayer, an exotic animal veterinarian at the university, argues that honey bees deserve a status similar to domestic livestock. He notes that while massive losses in domestic animal populations would be treated as a health emergency, such losses in beekeeping are often viewed as routine.