Dalan Animal Health's Forward-Thinking Approach to Honeybee Welfare
In a remarkable announcement, Dalan Animal Health, Inc. shed light on the alarming honeybee colony losses affecting the agricultural landscape of the United States. With reports indicating annual loss rates soaring between 70-80% in some areas, the crisis poses a serious threat not just to honeybees but also to the crops they pollinate—about one-third of the country's food supply. As beekeepers struggle with various factors contributing to this decline, including viruses, pesticides, poor nutrition, and ever-limited treatment solutions, Dalan Animal Health has emerged with a pioneering solution: innovative vaccine technology that seeks to reverse these distressing trends.
Dr. Annette Kleiser, CEO of Dalan Animal Health, shared insight into the catastrophic situation facing beekeepers and farmers alike. She commented, “The widespread loss of colonies has created unprecedented challenges. Our vaccine technology represents a paradigm shift in honeybee health management.” This shift involves utilizing the natural processes of maternal immune priming, empowering beekeepers by giving them a tool that tackles disease at its core, without the use of harmful chemicals or antibiotics. In essence, this innovative approach is designed to lessen the stressors impacting bees, allowing for better colony resilience.
Understanding the Vaccine Mechanism
Dalan's vaccine technology, which received conditional licensure from the USDA in late 2022, works through an ingenious principle. By exposing queen bees to inactive bacteria, these queens can transmit immunity to their brood. This method has demonstrated the capacity to protect larvae from mortality linked to American Foulbrood (AFB), a significant bacterial disease. Initial field trials across the East Coast, Southeast, and Canada have indicated a correlation between vaccinated colonies and diminished viral pathogens, such as the notorious Deformed Wing Virus (DWV). This aspect highlights the transformative potential of Dalan's approach: proactively reinforcing bee health rather than merely responding to diseases as they arise.
Chris Hiatt, the former President of the American Honey Producers Association, voiced his optimism for the opportunities presented by Dalan’s vaccine. He stated, “This year, we’re seeing losses that we have never encountered. What we need are new, science-based tools that provide a fighting chance against these unprecedented losses.” With plans to utilize the vaccine in his operations, Hiatt expressed his eagerness to track its efficacy with his hives this season.
Colony Loss Relief Program
Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, Dalan Animal Health has introduced a Colony Loss Relief Program designed to assist beekeepers who have already faced significant hardships. This initiative aims to support the restoration of pollination capacity for the 2025 growing season while ensuring that preventive measures are in place for the future. Dr. Kleiser elaborated, “As a company, we understand the immediate needs of beekeepers impacted by historic losses. We are here to help them recover and thrive.”
Dalan’s commitment to beekeepers is further demonstrated through partnerships with major retailers, facilitating the vaccination of honeybee colonies while encouraging investment back into beekeeping operations. This collaborative effort represents a significant step towards rebuilding the deteriorating bee populations critical for food production.
For those interested in learning more about the Colony Loss Relief Program or Dalan's innovative vaccine technology, interested parties are encouraged to reach out to Adam Costello, Dalan's Director of Commercial Operations, via email at [email protected]
As Dalan Animal Health forges ahead, its innovative solutions not only have the potential to safeguard honeybee populations but also to ensure the continued viability of agriculture, reinforcing a more sustainable future for food production. With plans to expand vaccine development to tackle other honeybee diseases and even underserved invertebrate species, Dalan is paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in animal health. For additional information about Dalan and its offerings, please visit
Dalan's website.
About Dalan Animal Health
Dalan Animal Health is dedicated to providing transformative solutions in animal health. Based in Athens, Georgia, at the University of Georgia's Innovation Hub, Dalan aims to lead the charge in developing vaccines for various diseases impacting honeybees and other invertebrate species, addressing the challenges posed to our global food supply chain.