University of California Davis Harry H. Laidlaw Honey Bee Research Facility
Founded in 1905, the University of California, Davis was originally the University Farm for California University; it was recognized as the University of California, Davis in 1959. UC Davis is a leader in interdisciplinary study, offering more than 100 academic majors and 86 graduate programs with the central purpose of being a comprehensive research university. UC Davis has held strong to its purpose and has a very strong reputation in the area of research, ranking first in the UC system and fifth in the nation in non-federal research expenditures.
UC Davis’ leadership in the research field can be seen in its extremely active entomology program, especially in The Harry H. Laidlaw Honey Bee Research Facility, the largest and most comprehensive state-supported apiculture facility and staff in North America, offering unique opportunities to both students and researchers for the entire University of California system.
As a brand focused on using the finest, all natural ingredients in its ice cream, Häagen-Dazs® Ice Cream values the important role honey bees play in creating many of its most treasured flavors. Through its Häagen-Dazs loves Honey Bees™ campaign, Häagen-Dazs ice cream is committed to funding sustainable pollination research and education. In 2008, the Häagen-Dazs brand partnered with the University of California Davis Harry H. Laidlaw Honey Bee Research Facility donating $100,000 to further the facility’s outstanding efforts in these areas.
In 2009, a generous $125,000 donation from the Häagen-Dazs brand will support the creation of a Honey Bee Haven Demonstration Garden at the Harry H. Laidlaw Honey Bee Research facility to provide a better source of nutrition for the native bees year-round and to further educate people on the importance of creating bee-friendly habitats.
The Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven Demonstration Garden: The gift will fund the development of The Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven within a Pollinator Paradise Demonstration Garden. The Honey Bee Haven began as a Garden Design Competition in December 2008 and will culminate in a one-half acre bee-friendly garden coordinated by the California Center for Urban Horticulture at UC Davis. Visitors to the garden will be able to glean ideas on how to establish their own bee-friendly gardens and help to improve the nutrition of bees in their own backyards.
In order to maintain a strong understanding about the various sustainable pollination issues, Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream has created a Bee Board which will serve to provide insight and consultation on the growing honey bee problem and new research findings. Bee Board members from UC Davis will include: Sue Cobey, bee researcher, Michelle Flenniken, Häagen-Dazs postdoctoral fellow at UC Davis, with a focus on the biology of honey bee viruses, Melissa “Missy” Borel, manager at the California Center for Urban Horticulture (CCUH), Eric Mussen, apiculturist for the Harry H. Laidlaw Honey Bee Research Facility, and Michael Parrella, associate dean, Division of Agricultural Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.