| 09 Apr 2008 |
| |
Norberto Milani, Professor of Entomology at the University of Udine in Italy
and a researcher whose work has made a huge impact upon the world of
beekeeping has died at the age of 58. He was a world-renowned expert in
entomology, honeybees, mites and pheromones. |
| |
| Paying tribute to Norberto, Dr Max Watkins of Vita (Europe) Ltd said:
"Norberto was a remarkable person with a brilliant mind. I began working
with him in 1991 and was always impressed by his knowledge, diligence and
attention to detail. He was quiet and self-effacing, but a real powerhouse
in the discovery and application of knowledge. He played a leading role in
the development of Apistan, Bayvarol, and Apiguard - all key products in the
fight against the varroa mite that are being used by beekeepers across the
globe. More recently, we had been working with him on pheromone systems to
control varroa. |
| |
| "Norberto's attention to detail was astonishing - and a key to his success.
When he inspected a frame for research purposes, he was meticulous. He would
examine every last cell. Often he was to be found in his offices or
laboratory long after others had gone home. As well as being top in his
field of biology he was also a first class physicist and made much of his
laboratory equipment himself. |
| |
| "Even though relatively few beekeepers outside of Italy might have known the
name of Professor Norberto Milani, they certainly benefitted from his work
and knowledge. We at Vita felt a great personal loss of a good friend and
collaborator, after his departure from the University in September 2006,
but we intend to pay tribute to the foundations he laid by continuing to
research with the team he established at the University of Udine." |
| |
| Professor Norberto Milani sustained extensive head injuries as a result of a
fall whilst mountain walking in September 2006 just before the 2006 EurBee
Conference. He never fully recovered and died at 10.30a.m. on 4th April
2008. |
| |
| About Vita (Europe) Ltd |
Vita (Europe) Ltd is a mite control and honeybee health
specialist based in the UK and operating across the globe.
Vita researches, develops, manufactures and markets acaricide
products and is the world's dominant supplier of honeybee
health products to the honey and pollination industries. |
| |
In the development of new and ecologically-sensitive
approaches to mite pest control, Vita collaborates with universities
including Cardiff, Milan, Udine and institutes including
the Tierhygienisches Institut (Institute of Animal Health)
in Freiburg, Germany, the UK Central Science Laboratory and
the USDA in America. Vita's innovative research and development
work has received support from the UK Government. |
| |
| Vita’s
products are available through a network of 60
distributors in 50 countries and have been registered by
more than 60 veterinary authorities. Its
product range includes anti-varroa acaricides (Apistan
(outside the USA/Canada) and Apiguard), chalkbrood and
wax moth controls, and foulbrood diagnostic kits) and two
health-promoting feeds. All the control products are designed
as elements of Integrated Pest Management programmes to
inhibit the build-up of resistance and wherever possible
use natural compounds and biological controls that are
benign to all but the target pests. |
| |
| As a result of its primary research of natural control agents,
Vita is currently engaged in new projects exploring mite control
in the agricultural, veterinary, and horticultural industries
as well as public health and human allergen control. |
| |
| Media Enquiries |
Stephen Fleming at Palam Communications
Tel +44 (0) 1635 299116
Email sfleming@palam.co.uk
Web www.palam.co.uk |
| |
| General Enquiries |
Jeremy Owen
Vita (Europe) Ltd
Tel +44 (0)1256 473 176
Email j.owen@vita-europe.com
Web www.vita-europe.com |
