Jim Fischer wrote:

"Why do US taxpayer funded institutions send "technology" to countries who return the
favor by using that technology (those bees) to:

a)  Compete with US honey producers, in both international markets and in the US itself
b)  Develop highly similar lines of "production" queens rather than buying US bees
c)  While holding positions that only speed the downward spiral of US beekeeping."

Jim, no doubt your arguments are far more refined than my thoughts!

- but, I say that the letters "US" may be replaced by several others representing countries that
also have honey production amongst its list of "made in ......".
Research and production of refined stock lines is not unique to the US - neither is its then
shipment to other users in other countries, without any more than the direct costs of production
being the return gain.
Development of breeder lines tends to be concentrated in specialised centres.
These then releasing them to be distributed by producers into the general market - where they gain
favour or disappear.

The point relating to who should gain from the "construction" of these products and by how much is
an acute point of debate.
- it is not the average queen producer that has put the package together - so logically they
shouldn't.
- the centres of research are there to further the overall efficiency, and up to the present have
been apparently apolitical/ unbiased regarding where final material has been sent.

Research centres possibly initiating a process of improvement have supplied material to others in a
different country, which then re-supplies the original centre with again improved material -
This has ensured progressive improvement over time.

If restricted distribution practice becomes the norm., would this not eventually lead to the common
situation found in the agro-chemical industry, i.e. restricted access to information, and that which
is in the public domain being supported by biased info?

Commenting on restricted supply:
- to who?, only to those that can/ will pay?
The problems in Saskatchewan (Canola et al.) will be at an infantile level when trying to control
the distribution of "controlled material".

Or will it be more like distribution to friends or countries that are at present considered as
friendly/ useful?

Returning to Allen DIck's point about Queens and the final price paid for a qualified final product:

A result coming out of a particular research project should be supported in such a manner that it
allows continued research to continue.
Its final influence on the market should also be reflected in the final product price, this being
then tied with guarantees of performance.
The population who have then supported the research to get the product from idea to on the market
status have little to complain about.

But, on how to ensure that the product does not get into the hands of a competitor and used against
the country of origin! - there I am lost.

How much was paid to bring in the start point for "Russian stock" into the states?
How much was paid to bring in "Italian stock" into the states?
How much was paid to bring in " Buckfast stock" into the states?

Are all previous "gifts" to be ignored and a fresh start initiated as from the present?
Anything now produced to be considered as a "commodity", to be traded with profit being the sole
"raison d'être"?

If that is to be the case, then I for one fear for open research.
and if distribution falls to the level of "you can have it, but you can't", based only on political
criteria, again I say that it would be a system that would produce far more problems that it would
be solve!

It is difficult enough to keep cool heads when restrictions are based on "hygiene" tests.

Opinions produced are those of the author - and may be debated with only in a calm, polite manner!

Peter Dillon.
Central France.
Europe.

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