Research Grant
Recipients
The Nate’s Hives Research Grant Program was created to help advance practical, science-based solutions for the challenges facing honey bees, beekeeping and the honey industry. Each year, funding is awarded to promising research projects focused on improving pollinator health, colony management and the long-term sustainability of beekeeping.
Grant recipients are selected through a competitive review process led by a board of industry leaders, researchers and beekeeping professionals who evaluate proposals based on their scientific merit, industry relevance and potential real-world impact. Learn more about our grant recipients and their groundbreaking research below.
Auburn University
Through the Nate’s Hives Research Grant Program, Nate’s Hives is supporting research at Auburn University Bee Center focused on improving control of Varroa mites, one of the most significant threats to honey bee health. Researchers are exploring how organic adjuvants can enhance thymol-based mite treatments, making them more effective and easier for beekeepers to use. By combining innovative formulation science with real-world field testing, the project aims to provide beekeepers with practical alternatives to synthetic treatments and help strengthen the long-term health of honey bee colonies.
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Montana State University
Nate’s Hives is proud to support research at Montana State University aimed at addressing one of the leading causes of honey bee colony loss: deformed wing virus. Through the Nate’s Hives Research Grant Program, researchers are evaluating a probiotic made from bacteria naturally found in the honey bee gut to help strengthen honey bee health and improve resistance to viral infections. The project reflects our commitment to funding practical, science-based solutions that support pollinator health and the future of beekeeping.
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Purdue University
With support from the Nate’s Hive Research Grant Program, researchers at Purdue University are developing North America’s first publicly accessible genomic prediction service for honey bees, allowing beekeepers to identify and propagate queens with desirable traits such as Varroa mite resistance, improved survival and honey production. By applying proven technologies, this project aims to give beekeepers practical, data-driven tools to strengthen colony health and build a more resilient future for pollinators.
Learn MoreWant to Apply?
Submissions open September 1, 2026.
The submission deadline is February 5, 2027.
