*3.3.7 Storage and transportation*

RJ is vulnerable to oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air, while ultraviolet light causes immediate chemical changes leading to loss of activity unless it is shut out immediately after harvest. RJ is also vulnerable to heat and shows denaturation gradually in short period when left at ordinary temperature. Despite the facts, in ordinal beekeeping, at the end of the flowering season, the harvested RJ is finally taken to the processing plant where it is filtered and frozen. In Natural Beekeeping, primary complete filtration is performed at the apiary, and there is no need for a processing plant for filtration.

In ordinal beekeeping, RJ carried from a processing plant to a harbor is once thawed, mixed with old RJ stored in the warehouse, and then frozen again. On exporting to Japan, etc., the freeze/thaw and re-freeze processes are repeated many times over. During these processes, 10-HDA may be added in order to comply with *Kikuji Yamaguchi Principles of Natural Beekeeping: A Novel Bio-Method of Natural Beekeeping… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89647*

**Figure 10.**

colonies are divided into four groups, and the colony used once for larva transfer and harvest is made to rest, with another colony used for production. This is rotated in sequence once every 4 days. In other words, the colony made to work once will then be given a 2-day rest. Needless to say, a greater amount can be produced when all of the colonies are made to work fully, but this is a fundamentally mistaken policy. Originally, in the method of producing RJ using artificial queen cell cups, the circumstance in which worker bees prepare the emergency queen cell in response to the emergency situation after disappearance of the queen bee was created artificially. In this sense, RJ production is a significant stress on worker bees. Through the rotation of colonies, colony momentum is maintained and the lifespan of worker bees is also prolonged. Most important is that the disease resistance of the colony is increased by this rotation, leading to avoidance of the use of drugs such as antibiotics. Even when the rotation is adopted in RJ production, the colony in the resting state can be dedicated to the collection of nectar and pollen, as the queen cell cup frame is not inserted. Honeybees are insects, and it is impossible to prepare genuine RJ required by consumers unless the ecology and providence of honeybees are

The RJ harvested from the beehive should be subjected to primary filtration at the apiary in order to remove bee wings, etc. and is then transported to a processing

It should be recommend to filter the harvested highly-active RJ immediately at the apiary and store it at 2°C under complete protection from sunlight. When RJ comes into contact with oxygen or carbon dioxide in the air or is exposed to ultraviolet light, it quickly becomes less active. It is also known that denature and turn-over of components occur immediately when RJ is left at ordinary temperature. The activities, however, can be maintained for a far long time when stored at

Therefore, in the Natural Beekeeping (KYAMENABEE), the harvested RJ is immediately filtered so as to remove foreign matter such as dead bees, hive scum and dust. Although denaturation occurs immediately when left at ordinary temperature, it is known that RJ can remain active for a fairly long time when stored as at 2°C. I recommend filtering the harvested RJ on every harvest so as to remove impurities, followed by temporary storage at 2°C under protection from sunlight

RJ is vulnerable to oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air, while ultraviolet light causes immediate chemical changes leading to loss of activity unless it is shut out immediately after harvest. RJ is also vulnerable to heat and shows denaturation gradually in short period when left at ordinary temperature. Despite the facts, in ordinal beekeeping, at the end of the flowering season, the harvested RJ is finally taken to the processing plant where it is filtered and frozen. In Natural Beekeeping, primary complete filtration is performed at the apiary, and there is no need for a

In ordinal beekeeping, RJ carried from a processing plant to a harbor is once thawed, mixed with old RJ stored in the warehouse, and then frozen again. On exporting to Japan, etc., the freeze/thaw and re-freeze processes are repeated many times over. During these processes, 10-HDA may be added in order to comply with

followed.

plant.

low temperature.

*3.3.7 Storage and transportation*

processing plant for filtration.

**130**

*3.3.6 Filtration at apiary and temperature control*

*Modern Beekeeping - Bases for Sustainable Production*

and final cryopreservation below 18°C (**Figure 10**).

*Generator and refrigerator. An electric refrigerator combined with gasoline-driven generator was supplied to beekeepers so that the temperature control was easily performed at the site.*

the standard value. Under such circumstances, we cannot even hope to receive high-quality RJ. Therefore, in the Natural Beekeeping, the harvested RJ is filtered immediately at the apiary so as to remove foreign matters, and sufficient effort is made to avoid component changes. The RJ is stored at 2°C and cryopreserved at 18°C after packaging. It is frozen only once on this occasion.

Concerning the suitable temperature for storage of RJ (2°C in refrigeration and 18°C in cryopreservation), Smith had already reported in the "Bee World" journal in 1959 that "The harvested RJ must be immediately stored in a refrigerator. Oneyear storage is probably possible at 2°C. No changes were observed in royal jelly stored at 18°C for several years", and this storage method was established worldwide [23]. Thereafter, the optimal temperature for storage being 2°C was also reported in the German beekeeping journal "Archive Hule Bienenkunde", and Inoue, a Japanese beekeeping researcher [3], stated that "The opinions of the world's researchers are mostly in unison" (cited from "New technology for higher yield of royal jelly").

In 1967, I supplied an electric refrigerator combined with a gasoline-driven generator to Japanese beekeepers so that five beekeepers could share one set. At that time, prevailing wisdom dictated that RJ should be stored at ordinary temperatures under a tent, and the beekeepers resisted the introduction of refrigerators, complaining that they were "troublesome", "owner indistinguishable", "may be stolen", "have questionable security", and so on. I took the following countermeasures: the neat fluids were accommodated in plastic bags with different colors, and the manufacturing site, manufacturer, date and time of harvest, etc. were written on each bag with a magic marker. In other words, attention was paid to perfect traceability even at that point in time. This system was also introduced to the rape blossom bee forages in Qing Hai Haibei Menyuan.
