Project “Fort Knox”
Cooperation among beekeepers who want to select bees able to live without chemical treatments against varroosis.
“Fort Knox” is an independent project supporting beekeepers in the selection of bees resistant to diseases, above all to varroosis, caused by the honey bee mite (Varroa destructor). The project is organised and run by amateur beekeepers.
What is Fort Knox?
It is a system of mutual help and exchange of surviving genetics between the apiaries of project participants.
How does it work?
Colonies declared for the Project are managed without chemical treatment. We leave selection to nature.
How to join?
First, read the rules and documents. Then you can contact us.
Unfortunately, in our times bee diseases are devastating apiaries. Beekeepers often reach for toxic or biocidal chemical substances. These are not neutral either to bees or to beekeepers, and if used improperly they may enter bee products.
Project “Fort Knox” was created in response to these problems. In short, it is based on mutual guarantees of rebuilding parts of apiaries after the loss of bee colonies. The Project supports the genetic diversity of resistant bees and their adaptation to the local environment.
The principles of evolution and natural selection provide bees in the long term with:
- the best adaptation to local environmental conditions;
- selection of the entire living environment, including microorganisms associated with bees in the hive;
- balance between insects and pathogens and parasites;
- a living environment free from so-called “chemistry”;
- preservation of the natural life cycle;
- development of adaptation to local threats;
- comprehensive selection of traits needed for survival without constant beekeeper care.
We invite you to learn about the Project and, if you wish, to cooperate with us. Together we can do more.
For clarity: the “K” in “Knox” is silent, so the name is pronounced “fort nox”.