Beekeeping

With many wild bee species only able to survive in specific temperature ranges, global warming has placed the global bee population in peril.

The Romanian Beekeepers Association (ACA) organises, over September 20-22, on the platform of the Institute of Research and Development for Apiculture in Baneasa, the 21st edition of the National Honey Fair. This is the most important event of its kind in the Capital City to benefit from a large number of exhibitors: beekeepers, processors and representatives of beekeepers associations.

According to unofficial data from the association of beekeepers in Varna region, more than 200 bee families have been poisoned from the uncontrolled spraying with plant protection products.

Beekeepers are extremely concerned that they do not understand the large tenants who claim to have used selective varieties of plants that are self-pollinated and do not need bees.

There is a real risk that 45,000 tons of honey from South America would enter the European market through duty-free imports, the Association of Producers of Organic Bee Products warn. This could happen due to a trade agreement between the EU and MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market), BNR reported.

We expect 50% less honey bee production this year compared to last year, Mayor of Tutrakan and beekeeper Dimitar Stefanov said in an interview with Focus News Agency. 

Propolis, a resinous substance obtained from honeybees, has become a new source of extra income for beekeepers in Turkey.

The European Commission has approved Bulgaria's National Beekeeping Program for the period 2020-2022. Its total budget is BGN 6.4 million for each of the three years of implementation.

50% of the funds are from the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and 50% from the national budget. All measures implemented so far are included in the Program and new support measures are foreseen.

For a beekeeper in eastern Turkey, being honey to the striped insects is all in a day's work -- and also the quest to set a new world record.

Eurostat data on exports and imports of natural bee honey from the 28 EU member states that for the last year, Bulgaria has exported approximately 10,000 tonnes of honey (or 103,600 kg) to EU countries, and about 4 tonnes of honey (3,925 kg)for non-EU countries.

Turkey is the world's second largest beekeeping country after China, an official said, as the country marks World Bee Day on May 20.