Bee BC Program
BC, Canada
Financial support for B.C. beekeeping and Indigenous organizations
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|closingDateFebruary 27, 2024
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
grant_single|grantors
- Government of British Columbia
- Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
Get funding to cover up to 80% of your project, to a maximum of $7,000, for research, exploration, and field testing of bee-health-related best management practices, the purchasing of new equipment, and the implementation of new bee health strategies.
grant_single_labels|projects
This grant supports initiatives within the province of British Columbia, which is the primary geographical area eligible for the program. Applicants must be associated with regional or community-based beekeeping activities in this province.
- Provincial projects within British Columbia.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$7,000
Vancouver
Field testing best practices in beehive equipment irradiation
$6,400
Surrey
Seeding new bee forage areas to improve nectar sources
$7,000
Victoria
Purchasing advanced nectar analysis technology for bee health research
$7,000
Kelowna
Introducing pollen substitutes to enhance bee health
$6,800
Burnaby
Introducing high-quality bee forage plants for disease prevention
$7,000
Richmond
Implementing a new bee health monitoring system
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and proposed activities.
- The applicant must be a regional or community-based beekeeping association, a beekeeper with permitted hives, a group of beekeepers with permitted hives, or a First Nations/Indigenous Peoples Organization.
- The proposed project must contribute to the overall health of bees in the province of British Columbia.
- Projects must focus on research, exploration, field-testing, or the implementation and sharing of best practices for bee health management.
- Eligible activities must be new to the beekeeper, group of beekeepers, or community/region.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Regional/community beekeeping associations or groups, individual beekeepers with permitted hives, groups of beekeepers with permitted hives, and First Nations/Indigenous Peoples Organizations are eligible to apply for the Bee BC Program grant. They must focus their efforts on small-scale or community-based projects that contribute to enhancing bee health in British Columbia. All applicants must ensure compliance with the Animal Health Act regarding beekeeping activities.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
This grant is designed to specifically focus on bee health-related projects, and excludes companies primarily engaged in commercial honey production or other unrelated business activities. Such restrictions help ensure that the funding is utilized for enhancing bee health and research.
- Companies involved in regular commercial honey production.
- Businesses focused on marketing or promotional activities for bee products.
- Enterprises involved in business development activities aimed at income generation during or after the project.
- Firms seeking funds for standard equipment or ongoing maintenance of bee colonies.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The Bee BC Program supports projects that aim to enhance bee health through various innovative and best management practices. Eligible activities focus on research, field-testing, and the implementation of new strategies to improve bee colony vitality and sustainability.
- Researching and field-testing new bee health best management practices.
- Purchasing new equipment and integrating it into bee health strategies.
- Implementing best management practices like beehive equipment irradiation.
- Introducing pollen substitutes and supplements into bee health regimes.
- Seeding and planting new bee forage to provide nectar and pollen.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The grant covers specific expenses that support the research, exploration, field testing, and implementation of new or conventional management strategies for bee health.
- Costs for new equipment and technology that enhance bee health.
- Transportation costs of beehive equipment for irradiation.
- Costs for pollen substitutes and/or supplements.
- Costs for seeding and planting of new bee forage.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria with allocated point scores to ensure alignment with the grant’s objectives.
- Alignment with program goal and objective.
- Community-based beekeeper involvement.
- Strength of project framework.
- Communications plan.
- Scale of project impact and benefits.
- Timeline of impact.
- Technical/scientific merit.
- Applicant experience/qualifications.
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Create an Account on IAF Client Portal
- Create a personal profile with name and email.
- Step 2: Organization Registration
- Register your organization by providing necessary information such as organization name, contact details, type of organization, BC ID / CRA numbers, primary contact, etc.
- Allow up to two business days for IAF Staff to verify your registration.
- Step 3: Apply for Funding
- Select "Bee BC Program" from the list of funding opportunities.
- Provide project start and end dates.
- Select project activities from the eligible activities list.
- Describe key activities including who will undertake the work and the project timeline.
- Ensure alignment with program priorities and describe expected project impact.
- Outline a funding request and project budget.
- Upload supplementary materials such as letters of support or CVs.
- Step 4: Submission
- Submit the completed application through the IAF Client Portal before the deadline on February 27, 2024, at 16:30 PST.
- Step 5: Confirmation and Communication
- Receive notification of successful submission.
- Wait for the review and adjudication process, with successful applicants notified by April 12, 2024.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The grants cover a specific funding period from April 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025, and all activities must fall within this timeframe.
- A competitive process with scoring criteria is used for application evaluation, and only top-scoring applications receive funding.
- There is a cap of $7,000 per project on funding awards.
- Communication materials funded by the grant must be pre-approved by the IAF communications team before public release.
- Projects must have a clear communications plan for sharing bee health best practices among beekeepers in British Columbia.
- Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by April 12, 2024.
- Once a funding agreement is in place, any changes to the project must be approved by IAF to remain eligible for expenses.
- Grant recipients must submit a final report detailing project activities and outcomes via the IAF Client Portal.
Apply to this program
Funding Opportunity to Enhance Bee Health in British Columbia
The Bee BC Program, overseen by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF), offers funding to small-scale and community-based projects focused on improving bee health in British Columbia. This grant aims to support beekeepers and related organizations in researching and implementing best practices to maintain healthy bee colonies and promote the vital role bees play in pollination and ecological balance.
Detailed Overview of the Bee BC Program and Its Objectives
The Bee BC Program is a targeted initiative designed to bolster the health of bee populations across British Columbia, recognizing the essential role of bees in producing honey and facilitating the pollination of a wide array of crops. The primary focus of the program is to fund small-scale regional or community-driven projects that explore, develop, and disseminate effective bee health management practices. These initiatives are crucial as they address the growing need to protect and nurture bee colonies, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the agriculture industry and broader ecological systems.
Successful applicants can utilize grants of up to $7,000, which are available for a project period between April 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025. Projects must align with the program’s goals, focusing on the introduction and evaluation of new or innovative beekeeping practices that the applicant has not previously implemented. This ensures the continuous evolution and improvement of bee management techniques among local communities and beekeepers.
Eligible applicants include regional and community-based beekeeping associations, individual beekeepers with licensed hives, groups of such beekeepers, and Indigenous organizations in British Columbia. By opening eligibility to a diverse array of applicants, the Bee BC Program encourages widespread community engagement and collaboration, fostering a collective approach to solving challenges related to bee health.
This program not only supports the implementation of project activities such as purchasing specialized equipment, practicing new disease management strategies, and enhancing bee forage resources, but also places significant emphasis on information sharing. The accompanying dissemination of knowledge is a core component, enabling beekeepers to engage with and learn from one another’s experiences.
The application process for this grant is comprehensive and occurs through the IAF Client Portal, with all projects required to present a clear plan of action, outlining how they intend to achieve measurable impacts on bee health. The criteria for evaluation focus not just on feasibility and innovation, but also on the strength of community involvement and the potential for positive, long-lasting impacts on the beekeeping industry and surrounding environment.
The adjudication process is competitive, with applications reviewed based on adherence to program goals, the clarity of the project framework, and demonstrated benefits to beekeeping and the environment. The program encourages collaboration across different sectors and communities, including partnerships with local, regional, or First Nations governments, ensuring a holistic approach to tackling bee health challenges in the province.
In conclusion, the Bee BC Program represents a vital opportunity for beekeepers and associated organizations in British Columbia to undertake meaningful projects that enhance the health and sustainability of bee populations. It not only provides the necessary financial support but also fosters an environment of innovation and communal engagement, pivotal for the future of agriculture and our natural ecosystems in British Columbia.
