More than 100 bee experts gathered in Parma, Italy, earlier this year to debate the latest scientific developments on the risk assessment of multiple stressors in bees. EFSA’s 18th Scientific Colloquium was convened in response to the growing consensus among scientists about the multifactorial origins of bee colony losses. The colloquium report contains abstracts of the opening speeches, summaries of the discussion group results and conclusions from the final plenary session.