About KRTP
Program Mandate
The KRTP mandate was conceived with four pillars: i) education, ii) services to beekeepers, iii) demonstrative research, and iv) communication.
The KRTP focuses on honey bee health, integrated pest management strategies, best management practices for local conditions, community engagement, and overall betterment of the beekeeping industry. To support Manitoba beekeepers in maintaining optimal bee health and productivity, the KRTP mission includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Contribute to filling knowledge gaps between research and real-world application.
- Develop and share knowledge and practices that reflect shifting environmental, biologic, and economic conditions. The end goal is to make sure beekeepers are aware of the most up-to-date information that they can benefit from adopting.
- Facilitate connections between the beekeeping community and apicultural researchers to advance science and practice.
Program Background
The KRTP was established in 2021 by the Manitoba Beekeepers’ Association (MBA). The Manitoba provincial government, in agreement with the federal government, has committed to fully fund the KRTP from 2023 to 2028 via the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP).
The KRTP works collaboratively with the provincial beekeeping community, academia, industry, and government to maintain a thriving industry and support sustainable livelihoods. Since the KRTP’s inception we have benefited greatly from the support and close collaboration with the University of Manitoba’s Honey Bee Research Lab, previously led by Dr. Rob Currie, and presently led by Dr. Nuria Morfin. The KRTP office is located in the same building and they provide access to their lab space and equipment. In addition, to Dr. Currie and Dr. Morfin, a special thanks is due to Department of Entomology technicians that provide invaluable expertise: Zoe Rempel, Won Lee, and Dave Holder.
Since 2021, the KRTP has undertaken a diverse range of projects to support Manitoba beekeepers. These projects include varroa management (oxalic acid, novel acaricides lab trials, RNAi biopesticide control), province-wide surveillance of miticide resistance, stock self-sufficiency and integrated pest management workshops, disease diagnostics extension materials, bee health monitoring service, selective queen breeding assistance, and research and services for assessing feed quality.
The KRTP steering committee holds an annual meeting to realign the program’s priorities and develop strategies in accordance with the evolving needs of beekeepers and collaborators, which includes researchers and industry partners. More broadly, this meeting provides oversight and centres the priorities of the MBA membership.
The KRTP Team
Matthew Polinsky
Program Lead
Matthew Polinsky serves as the Program Lead for the Manitoba Knowledge and Research Transfer Program (KRTP). With nearly 20 years of experience in apiculture, he has worked in commercial beekeeping operations in various regions including Saskatchewan, New Zealand, Australia, as well as in urban beekeeping in Montreal. Prior to joining the KRTP in 2023, Matthew contributed to Canadian honey bee research through the Saskatraz bee breeding project, the University of British Columbia, and Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada. Originally from Saskatchewan, Matthew holds degrees in Human Environment Geography BA (Hons) and English BA from Concordia University in Montreal.
Amanda Turriff
Field & Lab Technician
Amanda Turriff is originally from Rimouski, QC. Her journey with bees started in 2021 in British Columbia working for a queen breeder, Emily Huxter who runs Wild Antho. She acquired experience catching queens, making nucs, running grafts, harvesting and extracting honey, all while pursuing a degree in Bioresource Engineering at McGill University. More recently, she worked for a company called Alveole as an urban beekeeper and educator in Montreal. The opportunity to work for the Manitoba Tech Transfer Program, doing applied beekeeping research and education is what brought Amanda to Manitoba in May 2024.
The KRTP is Funded by
Thank you to our valued partners
