Honeybee

Bayer CropScience has opened its second Bee Care Centre.

The global pesticide firm's latest venture, which is located in North Carolina, USA, cost $2.4 million, and the 6,000 sq ft facility is designed as an education and research centre.

The building is surrounded by landscape plants - chosen for their drought tolerance and bee forage contributions. Added to that, three working bee-hives will be used as demonstration and educational components.

The centre, which will also host graduate students working on bee health issues, is the second facility of its type, with the first - in Monheim, Germany - being opened two years ago.

Working with the industry, the aim of the centres is to develop better mite controls, boost bee nutrition and improve management practices for beekeepers.