BeeWosk 2026

• Fund name: European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF)
• Programme name: Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027 (CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027)
• CAP Strategic Plan intervention: I.6.6 “Intervention in the apiculture sector – scientific and research support”
• Intervention objective: Increasing farms’ market orientation and competitiveness in both the short and long term, including a greater focus on research, technology and digitalisation.
• Project title: Integrated analysis of the functional properties and purity of beeswax used in the production of wax foundation, using WAXO measurements and physicochemical and pesticide testing
• Agreement number: 00001.BWI07.61835.1.2.2025
• Beneficiary: International Academy of Applied Sciences in Łomża
• Thematic area: Quality of bee products
• Implementation period: Apicultural year 2026. Research completion deadline: 30 June 2026.
• Maximum aid amount: PLN 80,000.00 net. The aid covers up to 100% of net costs incurred in carrying out research on apiculture.

Beeswax is one of the most important raw materials used in beekeeping. It is used to build combs in which brood develops and honey and pollen are stored. Its quality can affect comb stability, colony development, the safety of bee products and the efficiency of apiary management. Wax is also a matrix in which residues of veterinary medicines used to control Varroa destructor and plant protection products from the agricultural environment can accumulate. Repeated melting of old wax and its reuse to produce wax foundation may further increase the risk. The project involved a multidimensional assessment of wax quality, combining the rapid WaxoNext screening method with advanced laboratory testing. This approach makes it possible to assess both the functional properties of wax and its chemical residue burden.

The project aimed to develop and apply a reliable, precise and practical procedure for assessing the quality of beeswax used to produce wax foundation. The procedure is intended for research institutions, raw-material quality control laboratories, wax foundation manufacturers and beekeepers interested in assessing the origin and quality of the wax they use.

• Assessing the properties of beeswax in relation to natural reference wax.
• Determining the frequency of occurrence of veterinary medicine and plant protection product residues.
• Identifying samples requiring more detailed laboratory diagnostics.
• Assessing the relationship between the origin of wax foundation, the type of wax used and its functional properties.
• Examining whether the WaxoNext screening result is related to the number or concentration of detected chemical substances.
• Developing recommendations for monitoring the quality of wax and wax foundation used in beekeeping.

The research covered beeswax samples obtained from beekeepers. The laboratory component analysed 150 wax samples. The work included:

Wax samples were melted, homogenised, moulded and conditioned under controlled conditions. A uniform material preparation procedure reduced the influence of sample temperature, shape and structure on test results.

The WaxoNext device made it possible to determine the relative deviation of a sample’s properties from those of natural reference wax. The measurement result was expressed as δ [%]. The method does not identify the type or concentration of a specific foreign substance. It does, however, identify samples whose physical, mechanical and thermal properties differ from the adopted reference and which should undergo further laboratory testing. The statistical analysis used 159 valid WaxoNext measurement results.

Samples were tested using a modified QuEChERS technique and liquid and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry – LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. The analytical scope covered 550 active substances, including:

• veterinary medicine residues,
• acaricides used to control Varroa destructor,
• insecticides,
• fungicides,
• other plant protection products.

The assessment included:

• the distribution of wax quality classes according to WaxoNext,
• the influence of the source of wax foundation,
• the influence of the type of wax used to produce foundation,
• regional variation in results,
• repeatability of results within suppliers,
• the frequency of occurrence of individual active substances,
• the occurrence of multiple residues,
• relationships between the WaxoNext result and the chemical burden of samples.

At least one quantifiable active substance was detected in 121 of the 150 samples, representing 80.7% of the material examined. A total of 10 active substances belonging to veterinary medicines, insecticides and fungicides were identified. The most frequently detected were:

• piperonyl butoxide – in 76 samples,
• coumaphos – in 70 samples,
• tau-fluvalinate – in 31 samples.

Multiple residues were also found in the material examined:

• one active substance was detected in 62 samples,
• two substances – in 40 samples,
• three substances – in 16 samples,
• four substances – in 2 samples,
• six substances – in 1 sample.

The results confirm that wax can serve as a persistent reservoir of chemical compounds originating both from apiary treatments and from the agricultural environment.

Based on the δ values:

• 17 samples were classified as good-quality wax,
• 38 samples as wax of uncertain quality,
• 104 samples as wax whose properties differed significantly from those of the reference wax.

The results indicated that wax properties were related to the origin of the foundation and the type of raw material used to produce it. The highest proportion of samples differing significantly from the reference was found in foundation purchased from manufacturers. Lower δ values were observed in foundation made by beekeepers themselves or by a processing facility using wax supplied by the beekeeper.

No significant relationship was found between the δ value and:

• the number of active substances detected,
• the sum of the concentrations of detected substances,
• the presence or absence of chemical residues.

This means that WaxoNext and chromatographic testing describe two different but complementary aspects of wax quality. WaxoNext assesses the deviation of functional properties from reference wax, while LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS identify and quantify specific chemical residues.

The project’s main outcome is the development of an integrated approach to assessing beeswax quality, combining:

• rapid screening,
• analysis of the functional properties of wax,
• determination of chemical residues,
• analysis of the origin of the raw material,
• statistical assessment of relationships between results.

The research showed that using only one method does not allow a complete assessment of wax quality. A sample may have properties similar to those of reference wax while still containing chemical residues. The reverse is also possible: a sample may differ significantly from the reference despite a low burden of the substances included in the analysis.

The project results may contribute to:

• improving the quality of wax foundation introduced into apiaries,
• increasing the safety of bee colonies,
• reducing trade in raw material of unknown origin,
• improving the traceability of wax batches,
• referring suspect samples for laboratory testing more quickly,
• reducing losses caused by the use of technologically unsuitable wax foundation,
• promoting good practice in wax circulation and recycling,
• developing cooperation between researchers, laboratories, wax foundation manufacturers and beekeepers.

Based on the research findings, the following are recommended:

• Regularly monitoring the quality of wax and wax foundation.
• Combining screening with laboratory analyses.
• Documenting the origin and processing history of wax.
• Limiting uncontrolled mixing of raw-material batches.
• Exercising caution when repeatedly melting old comb.
• Referring samples with unusual WaxoNext results for more detailed instrumental diagnostics.
• Using only authorised medicinal products in accordance with instructions and good beekeeping practice.

The research findings were presented in the scientific publication: Bożena Łozowicka, Piotr Ponichtera, Tadeusz Olszewski, Zenon Czenstkowski, “Wielowymiarowa ocena jakości wosku pszczelego z wykorzystaniem analizy pozostałości leków weterynaryjnych i środków ochrony roślin oraz przesiewowej oceny właściwości wosku metodą WaxoNext” [Multidimensional assessment of beeswax quality using analysis of veterinary medicine and plant protection product residues and screening of wax properties with WaxoNext], “Zeszyty Naukowe Międzynarodowej Akademii Nauk Stosowanych w Łomży”, No. 100, 2026, pp. 2–22. Publication link: https://ojs.mans.edu.pl/index.php/sjiaas/article/view/425

• Prof. dr hab. Bożena Łozowicka,
• Dr inż. Piotr Ponichtera, Professor at MANS,
• Mgr Tadeusz Olszewski.

• Prof. dr hab. Bożena Łozowicka,
• Dr inż. Piotr Ponichtera, Professor at MANS,
• Mgr Tadeusz Olszewski,
• Mgr Zenon Czenstkowski.

The operation entitled “Integrated analysis of the functional properties and purity of beeswax used in the production of wax foundation, using WAXO measurements and physicochemical and pesticide testing” was co-financed by the European Union under the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027, intervention I.6.6 “Intervention in the apiculture sector – scientific and research support”.

International Academy of Applied Sciences in Łomża, ul. Studencka 19, 18-400 Łomża