Five major lines of research are pursued at the Istituto Nazionale di Apicoltura:

1) Conservation and selection of Italian honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica) and protection of the Sicilian race (Apis mellifera sicula)

2) Health control in beekeeping facilities

3) Optimisation of production (product characterisation and qualification)

4) Economic and market analyses connected to the production of honey and other beehive products

5) Relationship between bees and the environment (biomonitoring and apidology)