WSU Launches Spanish-Language Website to Support Beekeepers and Pollinator Health

Washington State University (WSU) is buzzing with the news of their newly translated website, dedicated to supporting Spanish-speaking beekeepers in maintaining healthy pollinator populations. The website, part of the WSU Honey Bee and Pollinators Program, now offers comprehensive information previously available only in English. Topics covered include anything from bee health to training opportunities, directly catering to the Spanish-speaking beekeeping community.

"Right now, there’s a lack of adequate training resources for beekeepers in Spanish," Bri Price, the Honey Bee Program Extension Coordinator at WSU, remarked in a statement obtained by WSU News. Price added, "That limits beekeepers’ abilities to make critical decisions that could enhance colony health and survival. Our new website, along with other projects, aims to fill that gap."

Funding for the translation was provided by a grant from the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Critical Agriculture Research and Extension program. Sandra Mina-Herrera, a doctoral student at WSU's College of Education originally from Colombia, carried out the translation. Prior to this project, Mina-Herrera's expertise was rooted in social sciences, rather than entomology, but she embraced the challenge of translating for this niche audience.

"I didn’t know anything about bees!" Mina-Herrera conveyed in a WSU News interview. She described the rigorous process of learning and translation, acknowledging the importance of understanding the material rather than relying solely on dictionaries or AI translation tools. "You need to know the context of what’s being presented and be curious about the topic," she emphasized, highlighting not only the technical side but also the underlying purpose of her translation efforts for the beekeeping community and the bees themselves.

Since its launch in October, the Spanish-language site has attracted attention with over 180 visits to date. In the broader aim to enhance the inclusivity of WSU entomology resources, the team behind the website is also producing Spanish videos on honey bee pests, translating publications on pollinators, and crafting a video series targeting commercial beekeeper training, as overseen by Rae Olsson, scholarly assistant professor in the Department of Entomology. Additionally, Mina-Herrera's upcoming projects include translating the Washington State Beekeepers Association’s Master Beekeeper curriculum into Spanish, a further testament to her dedication and WSU's commitment to education across diverse linguistic barriers.

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