by Véto-pharma After moving to the U.S. from Córdoba, Argentina, Fabiana Ahumada built a career in honey bee research and a deep commitment to supporting beekeepers. For more than 20 years, she has worked with the beekeeping industry in the U.S. and around the world, focusing on honey bee health, nutrition, and Varroa destructor research. Fabiana joined Véto-pharma’s sales team in May 2026, as the sales manager for the North America area. Let’s discover more about her through her testimony.
After moving to the United States, I worked at the University of Arizona, I conducted plant pathology research and then honey bee research at the USDA-Tucson Bee Laboratory. Over the past 20 years, I have worked extensively with the beekeeping industry in the United States and internationally, focusing on honeybee health.
My work in honey bee nutrition contributed to the development of MegaBee™, a nutritional supplement for honey bees. I later became deeply involved in research on Varroa destructor, a parasitic mite that is highly detrimental to honey bee colonies.
I joined BetaTec Hop Products as the Global Bees Business Manager and Director of Health and Wellness, and played an instrumental role in the development of an innovative hop-based biopesticide designed to control Varroa destructor in honeybee colonies and improve honey bee health. My contributions across product development, domestic and international regulatory affairs, marketing, and sales strategy were pivotal to the product’s success.
Prior to joining this company, I founded AgScience Consulting, where I provided services in project management and product development. Through this work, I created and implemented business strategies to identify new applications for food-grade and upcycled products that support and improve honey bee health.
I have been drawn to nature from a young age. Growing up in Argentina in an agricultural family, bees and other pollinators were part of the ecosystem around me. My involvement in the beekeeping world happened somewhat by chance, by meeting the right person at the right time. While working as a microbiologist on plant pathogens at the University of Arizona, I met a scientist researching bee pathogens and became fascinated by bee biology. I didn’t think twice about making the move to honey bees and into an exciting next step.
I began my bee journey on honey bee pathogens, particularly American foulbrood and chalkbrood, and later moved into nutritional supplements and biopesticides. It has now been more than 20 years since I entered the beekeeping world, and realized that once you are in it, there is no turning back. Bees are fascinating organisms, and like beekeepers, they are incredibly resilient, continuing to fight against all odds and I think we have so much to learn from both.
I had known Véto-pharma for many years and already saw it as a trusted company with a strong reputation in the beekeeping industry. What attracted me was its deep understanding of beekeepers’ needs and its commitment to developing science-backed solutions that can make a real difference.
What continues to stand out to me today is the combination of strong scientific expertise – The company’s in-house capabilities, including R&D, honeybee hives for product testing, CDMO capacity, regulatory expertise, and quality insurance & control teams, help ensure that products are developed with the highest level of care. This gives customers confidence that products are developed with care, supported by research and data, and designed to deliver what they promise.
I also really value the people and the collaborative culture. From the moment I joined, I felt a strong support network, with teams willing to share their knowledge, help one another, and work toward a common goal. There is also real room for innovation, brainstorming, and cross-functional collaboration.
For me, this combination of science, innovation, industry commitment, and teamwork is what makes Véto-pharma unique.
The beekeeping industry is constantly in evolution, and beekeepers are adapting to new challenges and threats. Sometimes they can take a proactive approach, while at other times they must react quickly. Among the many challenges they face, the ongoing battle against remains the most significant and is often what keeps beekeepers awake at night. Despite these challenges, the industry continues to innovate, adopting new management practices to improve honeybee health and colony survival.
Both U.S. and Canadian beekeepers face an uphill battle against Varroa mites. Rather than looking at each country separately, I believe it is important to focus on the management practices being used and the results they achieve. There is a great opportunity for beekeepers to learn from one another’s experiences and adopt best practices to improve overall colony health and winter survival.
In October, I will be at the FSBA conference in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL, November at the CSBA-AHPA in Reno, NV, and at the Saskatchewan Beekeepers conventions in Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Recycling and sustainability are important to me, I enjoy being part of projects that focus on these and the impact they have in our community. I volunteer at non-profits teaching classes on climate leadership, and I am also a board member of the sustainability committee in my city.
Don’t hesitate to great Fabiana when you will see her at the next beekeeping show! You can also reach out to her at info@vetopharma.com
by Véto-pharma 
by Véto-pharma 
