Arista Bee Research

What Arista Bee Research does

Arista Bee Research (Stichting Arista Bee Research) is a Dutch ANBI-registered non-profit foundation founded in December 2013 by BartJan Fernhout to breed Western honey bees with natural resistance to the Varroa destructor mite. The foundation operates the core BrSD project, implementing USDA Baton Rouge's Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) genetics through its proprietary three-phase Hop-Schritt-Sprung (Hop-Step-Jump) breeding methodology, which combines single drone insemination (SDI), daughter production at Italian mating stations, and multi-drone insemination (MDI) with semen from the highest-VSH colonies across Carnica, Buckfast, and Black Bee populations.

The organization coordinates six research programs: BrSD (Breeding, Selection & Distribution), VIMM (infestation measurement including CT-scan methods), GVaR (genetic marker identification via whole-genome sequencing), VaRT (additional resistance traits), BMaT (integrated bee management including cell-size studies), and SpEP (cryopreservation of sperm and eggs). It supports 6 paid project leaders (3 in Belgium, 3 in the Netherlands) and more than 300 volunteer beekeepers across 9 countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, and the USA), with the Belgian-Luxembourg land mating station at Sélange and the Beers (Netherlands) headquarters serving as primary operational sites. Academic partners include Wageningen University, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, University of Leuven, Länderinstitut Hohen Neuendorf, and Bieneninstitut Kirchhain.

The foundation does not sell commercial products; its business model is donation- and grant-driven, with an "Adopt an Arista Hive" sponsorship program, monthly/annual individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Dioraphte, Adessium, Accenture, ZLTO), and government/EU grants (NL-EU SIB, RAAK-pro, Provincie Noord-Brabant). Stated financial targets are 35,000 EUR/month initially, scaling to 100,000 EUR/month over 4 years to support expanded staff, volunteers, students, and a PhD researcher. Documented outcomes include <1% year-round mite infestation without chemical treatment in Arista colonies and roughly 95% overwintering survival versus 30-40% national average losses.

Name

Arista Bee Research

Legal name

Stichting Arista Bee Research

Website

https://aristabeeresearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arista Bee Research is a Dutch non-profit foundation that breeds Varroa-resistant Western honey bees using USDA-derived VSH genetics and its proprietary Hop-Step-Jump breeding method, serving a network of 300+ beekeepers across 9 European countries and the USA through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Apicultural Research and Honey Bee Breeding Services

NAICS

Apiculture (112910), Apiculture (11291)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Bee Breeding & Genetics (Trait Selection, Stock Improvement) (AFAEAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beekeeping Training, Education & Advisory Services (AFAEAHAO), Bee Health Management & Treatments (Mite/Disease Control Products & Services) (AFAEAHAK), Organic Apiculture (Beekeeping) (AFAEAMAG)

Keywords

• Varroa resistant breeding
• Honey bee genetics
• Queen breeding programs
• Apiculture research services
• Selective bee breeding

Headquarters

HQ city

Beers

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Primary funding through individual donations (monthly or annual), corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants. Donors receive regular updates on foundation developments. The foundation is ANBI-certified (Dutch public benefit organization), allowing tax deductions for EU donors.
2. Adopt an Arista Hive Program: Individuals and organizations can 'adopt' an Arista hive, providing ongoing financial support in exchange for updates and involvement in the breeding program.
3. Government Subsidies and Grants: Funding from national, EU, and private subsidies. Successfully obtained NL-EU SIB funding for VSH breeding program and genetic marker research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arista Bee Research is a non-profit foundation (Stichting) that breeds Varroa destructor-resistant Western honey bees through a selective VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) breeding program using its proprietary Hop-Schritt-Sprung method, combining single drone insemination, Italian mating stations, and multi-drone insemination across Carnica, Buckfast, and Black Bee populations. The foundation supports a network of more than 300 volunteer beekeepers across nine countries with training, methodology, and genetic material, and funds its operations through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

Arista Bee Research is a non-profit foundation (Stichting Arista Bee Research) focused on breeding Varroa-resistant honey bees through a comprehensive research and breeding program. The organization operates a core project (BrSD - Breeding, Selection & Distribution) utilizing the Hop-Schritt-Sprung breeding methodology developed from USDA Baton Rouge VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) research. This is supported by five pillar projects: VIMM (measuring methods), GVaR (genetic markers), VaRT (resistance traits), BMaT (bee management), and SpEP (sperm/egg preservation). The organization provides breeding stock, training programs, and uses Queenbase breeding software internally. The foundation also operates an 'Adopt an Arista Hive' donor program. Research is conducted in collaboration with universities (Wageningen, Inholland), USDA Baton Rouge, and beekeeper groups across Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Austria, Italy, and the USA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adopt an Arista Hive Program
• VSH Breeding Program Participation (Project BrSD)
• Varroa Resistance Training and Education

Quantifiable outcome

• 34% of colonies achieve high-VSH status (can control mites without treatment)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USDA Honey Bee Lab, Baton RougecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2014The USDA Bee Laboratory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a key strategic partner. Arista's VSH breeding program is based on USDA research by John Harbo, Jeffrey Harris, Jose Villa, and Bob Danka. USDA provides knowledge, experience, and breeding material for Varroa Sensitive Hygiene. First visit was June 2013, followed by collaborative work including Hawaii breeding project.
• Hawaii Island Honey CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partner in the Varroa-resistant breeding project in Hawaii, working with USDA and Arista since 2014. David Thomas operates a VSH breeding program using USDA genetics on Hawaii.
• Project Apis m.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Apis m. (PAm) is a key supporter of the Hawaii breeding project, providing funding and resources for Varroa-resistant bee research and breeding programs.
• Wageningen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on breeding and selection activities with Prof. Brascamp providing advice on breeding strategies. University provides CT-scan facilities for VIMM project and genetics expertise. BSc and MSc students support research projects.
• Inholland University of Applied SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in genetic marker research project (2018-ongoing) for VSH behavior identification through whole-genome sequencing. Provided sterile facilities for sperm diluent production (6 liters). Collaboration under RAAK-pro funding.
• Bejo SeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in genetic marker research project for VSH, providing additional resources and funding under the RAAK-pro and NL-EU SIB programs.
• University of LeuvenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on VSH quick-test research, including UBO-test validation studies with Buckfast Flanders.
• Länderinstitut für Bienenkunde Hohen NeuendorfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman bee research institute (LLBB) working on genetic markers for Varroa resistance and cryopreservation methods for honey bee semen. Partner in GVaR and SpEP projects.
• Bieneninstitut KirchhainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in VIMM project for establishing and validating infested brood counting methods.
• KRO-NCRV (Brandpunt+)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch public broadcaster produced documentaries about Arista's Varroa-resistant breeding projects in Hawaii (May 2018) and Netherlands (September 2018), raising awareness for the foundation's work.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bieneninstitut Kirchhain: German bee research institute contributing to Arista's VIMM measurement-methodology project. Operates its own Varroa-resistance research and breeding programs, with comparable focus on establishing standardized infestation-counting protocols.
• Länderinstitut für Bienenkunde Hohen Neuendorf (LIB): German federal bee research institute that co-leads Arista's GVaR genetic-marker project and SpEP cryopreservation project. Conducts parallel Varroa-resistance breeding research across multiple bee races and represents the most scientifically comparable peer in continental Europe.
• Hawaii Island Honey Company: Operates a commercial VSH breeding program on Hawaii using USDA genetics, in partnership with Arista since 2014. Among the closest operational peers given its parallel use of USDA VSH lines and shared breeding objectives.
• USDA Honey Bee Lab, Baton Rouge: Original developer of the VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) trait that Arista's entire breeding program is built upon. Runs its own VSH selection and supplies foundational breeding material to Arista, making it both a partner and the closest scientific peer in terms of methodology and output.

Broad incumbents

• Vita Bee Health: Europe's largest commercial bee-health company, offering chemical and non-chemical Varroa treatments and bee nutrition products. Represents the incumbent, chemical-based paradigm that Arista's chemical-free VSH approach is positioned to displace.
• Mann Lake Ltd: Largest US beekeeping supply company, selling hives, treatments, and queen bees across North America. A broad incumbent that competes for share-of-wallet among professional beekeepers who are Arista's downstream customers.
• Betterbee: North American beekeeping supply retailer and breeder. Sells Italian, Carniolan, and Russian queen lines and treatments — overlapping with Arista's downstream beekeeper customer base but operating a commercial rather than research-driven model.

Others

• Project Apis m. US non-profit that funds bee-health research and has directly funded Arista's Hawaii breeding project. Functions as an adjacent ecosystem participant and a comparable non-profit funding mechanism in the same problem space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aristabeeresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arista-bee-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arista Bee Research