Durbin Discusses Critical Bee Research At University Of Illinois

Durbin Discusses Critical Bee Research At University Of Illinois

URBANA - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today held a roundtable discussion at the University of Illinois with scientists, administrators, and beekeepers regarding their bee genomics research-which is sequencing the genomes of more than 4,000 domestic bee species. Over the last five years, Durbin has secured nearly $8 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for such research, which has critical implications for food and agriculture.

"Bee genomics research may not sound flashy, but it's incredibly important with 35 percent of our food crops dependent on pollinators. The work being done by University of Illinois and USDA scientists is a great example of why federal investment in research is critical. These pioneering discoveries will unlock more ways to protect the bee population and strengthen the crops that depend on pollination, benefitting consumers and farmers," said Durbin. "We must have stronger federal funds and commitments for American agricultural scientists and research, or we will continue to hand leadership to China. But China is the choice of The Trump Administration, which has decided to defund and damage important science like the USAID-funded Soybean Innovation Lab and the Soybean Germplasm Collection here on campus."

"Honey bees and wild bees are vital to agricultural and natural ecosystems yet face mounting threats. My lab studies the disease and pesticide factors that cause devastating yearly losses in honey bee colony populations, and the genome sequences produced as a result of Senator Durbin's strong support are a great resource for our studies," said Adam Dolezal, Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Illinois Bee Research Facility.

Since Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, Durbin has secured nearly $8 million in Agricultural Research Service (ARS) funding to sequence the genomes of 4,000 bee species, with the federal funding benefitting ARS labs in Urbana and Peoria. The FY26 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which cleared the Senate last month, would provide an additional $3 million if enacted into law. Durbin originally secured language in the FY20 agriculture appropriations bill directing the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize research and work in pollinator health and to continue to annually gather data on colony losses, rising input costs, and overall economic value of pollinators to the food economy.

There are 4,000 domestic bee species in the U.S. Until recently, scientists had mapped only the genome-which is a complete set of genetic chromosomes of an organism-of Apis mellifera, the domestic honeybee. The federally-funded research at the University of Illinois has resulted in 248 genomes being completed or in progress with hundreds more either in the sequencing pipeline or identified to be next in line. It is believed that if more genetic research was conducted on various species of bees, additional solutions could be discovered to address bee health. The main threats to honeybees are known as "The Four Ps": parasites, pathogens, pesticides, and poor nutrition. Poor nutrition results from poor habitat and low availability of flowering plants. Colony collapse disorder, when bees abandon the hive and leave behind the queen and larvae to die, is not well understood and believed to be related to The Four Ps.

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