Researchers at Oregon State University have received a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to study European foulbrood disease

Eugene, OR – State officials have announced that the European foulbrood disease is reportedly killing honey bees and affecting pollination of specialty crops.

The project is a partnership between OSU, Washington State University, University of California, Davis and Mississippi State University.

Researchers will investigate the factors contributing to high incidence of the disease, then share their findings with beekeepers and growers to inform and improve mitigation efforts.

European foulbrood disease is caused by a bacteria that infects honey bees at the larval stage, turning the newly hatched bee larvae into brown mush within a few days.

The disease has been on the rise in recent years, causing persistent honey bee colony declines and hurting beekeepers — especially those who pollinate early-season specialty crops like highbush blueberries.