UCO Research Uses Honeybees to Detect Crop Threats with New $300,000 USDA Grant
April 14, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently awarded a $300,000 grant to University of Central Oklahoma faculty members to support research aimed at strengthening the nation’s agricultural biosecurity.
The project, titled “Agricultural Biosecurity: Honeybees as a Surveillance Method for Rapid Detection of Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens in the U.S. Agricultural System,” will focus on developing an early warning system capable of detecting harmful bacterial and fungal pathogens before they spread widely through crops, livestock and surrounding ecosystems.
The research team includes James Creecy, Ph.D., assistant director and dean of UCO’s W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute (FSI), John Barthell, Ph.D., chief research officer, and Matt Parks, Ph.D., associate professor of biology
“Securing this research grant empowers UCO students to contribute directly to advancing agricultural biosecurity,” said Creecy.
“In addition, it strengthens UCO’s momentum toward achieving R2 status by expanding high‑impact learning and research opportunities.”
The project is supported by three UCO students, including two graduate students and one undergraduate, providing hands-on research experience in a field with national impact.
Bacterial and fungal diseases can spread rapidly among plants and animals, reducing crop yields, increasing food costs and impacting local economies. This research aims to provide earlier detection, allowing producers to respond more quickly and limit potential damage.
The UCO-based research team will use honeybees as natural collectors of environmental material, gathering microbes from plants, soil and water. These microbes accumulate in hive debris, which can then be analyzed using DNA-based methods to provide a snapshot of local microbial activity.
To test this approach, researchers will establish beehives across Edmond and Oklahoma City, collect hive debris and analyze samples to identify bacteria and fungi. If successful, this method could offer a practical, scalable early warning system to help protect agricultural systems, communities and the nation’s food supply.
The project also supports UCO’s continued progress toward achieving Research 2 (R2) designation. UCO already meets the minimum annual research expenditure threshold and was one of only 216 institutions nationwide to receive the 2025 Research College and University designation. With continued investment in research and doctoral programs, the university is well-positioned to attain R2 status.
To learn more about UCO, visit www.uco.edu.
(end)
Cutline: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) recently awarded a $300,000 grant to University of Central Oklahoma faculty members to support research aimed at strengthening the nation’s agricultural biosecurity.
