The importance of the beekeeping sector goes beyond itself

By: STA Date: 2024. 11. 28. 09:00

Honey can be imported, but pollination cannot – stated István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, at a conference on the future of the European beekeeping sector, held in Brussels on Thursday at the Permanent Representation of Hungary to the European Union.

(Photo: Pixabay)

The Minister reminded that almost 90 percent of our wild flowering plants and 80 percent of our cultivated plants depend at least in part on pollinators, including the activity of honey bees cared for by our beekeepers.

In the case of beekeeping, we are talking about an area whose importance goes far beyond the economic value of the honey produced

The actors in the beekeeping sector not only supply consumers with honey, but also provide important ecosystem services. In order for the desire to keep bees to survive, beekeeping activities must provide an adequate and fair livelihood for those involved. Therefore, in the future, in addition to honey production, the income structure of beekeepers should also take into account pollination activities, which would also contribute to the implementation of a farmer-centered EU agricultural policy. Improving the food security of European consumers would help the European Union to become strong and competitive again.

István Nagy also mentioned that the measures implemented in the beekeeping sector have not yet proven to be effective enough

A significant problem is that the EU is not self-sufficient and European beekeepers are working under strong market headwinds, so that the natural origin of honey coming from foreign markets often cannot be verified. That is why joint thinking and targeted, supportive action are needed at the European level as soon as possible in order to preserve the food security of EU beekeepers and European consumers – the head of the agricultural ministry drew attention.