News Roundup: Honey Bee Health Coalition Ends 2025 with Major Strategic Coverage

As 2025 came to a close, the Honey Bee Health Coalition (HBHC) was at the center of two major national stories: the launch of the first-ever North American Bee Strategy and major media coverage of the proposed closure of USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), which houses critical bee research infrastructure. Throughout these conversations, HBHC’s role in elevating bee health issues was prominently reflected in media coverage.

BARC Closure and Policy-Level Attention

In late November 2025, national and regional outlets covered concerns about USDA’s plan to close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) in Maryland, a facility with a long history of agricultural and bee health research. Among the coverage, the New York Times quoted HBHC in reporting on the fight to preserve this critical research hub and the broader implications for pollinator science and food systems.

Notable coverage includes:

• Beekeepers, Farmers and the Fight to Save a Century‑Old Research Hub — New York Times — Quoting Honey Bee Health Coalition perspectives on the importance of maintaining robust research infrastructure for pollinator health and agriculture.
• Beekeepers, Farmers Fight to Save Century‑Old Research Hub — Boston Globe — Detailing local and national responses to the proposed closure of BARC and how stakeholders, including beekeepers and agricultural groups, are advocating to preserve it.
• DNYUZ.com — Republishing the NYT narrative, further amplifying the conversation.
• Where the Food Comes From — Connecting the North American Bee Strategy coverage with policy discussions around national bee health research.

These stories highlighted broad concern about the potential loss of a century-old research institution, underscoring the need for continued investment in science that supports honey bee health and broader agricultural innovation.

North American Bee Strategy Coverage

A cornerstone achievement for the beekeeping community this year was the release of the North American Bee Strategy, a coordinated, continent-wide framework to protect pollinators and strengthen the honey market across the United States and Canada. This work, facilitated by the Keystone Policy Center on behalf of the Honey Bee Health Coalition and its partners, brought widespread coverage as media outlets explained the strategy’s goals and implications.

Major coverage includes:

• Where the Food Comes From — Reporting on the strategy launch and its aims to safeguard honey bees and ensure market integrity.
• KFGO and 740 The Fan — Highlighting the unveiling of the North American Bee Strategy to protect pollinators and strengthen pollination-dependent agriculture.
• Additional industry coverage noted how the strategy lays out actionable priorities such as improved pest and disease monitoring, enhanced research collaboration, and stronger honey authenticity standards.

Collectively, these articles emphasized HBHC’s facilitation of the strategy and its ongoing support to bring scientific and beekeeper-led priorities to a broader audience.