Hello BC Beekeeping Community Clubs and Associations:
I am pleased to introduce Dr. Abigail Chapman, who has joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Food as the Provincial Apiculture Specialist.
Dr. Chapman brings a strong combination of scientific expertise, practical beekeeping experience, and a long-standing commitment to education and outreach. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of British Columbia in 2025 under the supervision of Dr. Leonard Foster, where her research focused on understanding how viral infections affect honeybee queen health and reproductive potential.
Following her doctoral work, Dr. Chapman served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at UBC, leading the design and implementation of a major field study within a national initiative aimed at improving the availability of locally adapted honeybee stock in Canada. In addition to her research background, she has been beekeeping since 2017 and has spent multiple seasons working in queen breeding and stock production within a commercial operation, providing strong practical insight into industry practices and challenges.
Dr. Chapman is also well known within the beekeeping community for her extension and education work. She has delivered presentations throughout British Columbia and internationally and has previously served on the executive board of the BC Honey Producers’ Association, where she supported educational programming and knowledge transfer.
In her new role with the Ministry, Abigail looks forward to supporting beekeepers, industry organizations, and clubs. She is committed to strengthening communication, encouraging evidence-based management practices, working to update and improve the resources available to BC beekeepers of all scales, and responding with diligence to new and ongoing threats to honeybee health.
Sincerely,
Theresa Burns DVM MSc PhD
Chief Veterinarian, Ministry of Agriculture and Food