Region-Wide Pollinator IPM Working Group
The decline in both managed and nonmanaged pollinator populations is a major concern because of its potentially extensive negative implications for agriculture, the economy, and the environment. Since the onset of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) in 2007, multidisciplinary scientific inquiry has revealed a multitude of stressors that can synergistically affect honeybees. The new region-wide IPM working group, funded in 2011 under the leadership of Alexandru Surcica (Penn State), will pursue the following objectives:
- Identify northeastern stakeholder groups that have a vested interest in pollinators and their agricultural and nonagricultural ecosystem services.
- Select representatives from the groups and invite them to formulate their interests and needs regarding pollinators and pollination services.
- Establish the most feasible method / technology for fostering dialogue between the representatives of these groups.
- Gather their feedback on the need for pollinator IPM research, extension outreach, and policy making; summarize and classify these needs into a set of priorities according to their timeliness and their feasibility for accomplishment.
- Maintain open communication channel(s) over the years between the stakeholders for keeping them abreast of emerging issues.
