The site commemorates its initial anniversary
In an effort to combat counterfeit honey on the European market and promote sustainable beekeeping, European beekeeping associations and related organizations are collaborating on various initiatives. These initiatives aim to ensure authentic honey production, encourage pollinator-friendly farming practices, and limit the use of harmful chemicals.
One year ago, a website was launched to facilitate these collaborative efforts, and since then, it has grown significantly. Currently, the website boasts 402,865 beekeepers from 29 European countries as members, with invitations extended to European associations not yet joined to the platform.
The mission of the website is multifaceted, with a focus on combating counterfeit honey, incentivizing sustainable hive management, and limiting harmful chemical use. While explicit large-scale programs may not be extensively detailed in the available search results, several relevant activities and approaches can be highlighted.
For instance, European beekeepers emphasize authenticity and quality through national events such as the Annual Beekeeping Summer Conference & National Honey Show organized by the Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations. These gatherings help promote best practices and education that indirectly address quality control and consumer awareness about genuine honey products.
Efforts to promote hive health and sustainable beekeeping can be inferred from events and workshops focusing on pollinator-friendly farming and biodiversity-positive goals. For example, the EU CAP Network workshop ‘Promoting pollinator-friendly farming’ and the European Congress of Conservation Biology encourage policies and farming systems that support healthy pollinator populations.
The participation of organizations like Copa and Cogeca, which represent farmers and agri-cooperatives in discussions with the European Parliament’s committees on Agriculture and Environment, indicates collaboration towards sustainable and innovative farming practices. These efforts include reducing dependency on harmful pesticides and chemicals that threaten bee health, aligning with EU sustainability goals.
Educational resources such as the eBook *A Day in the Life of Katerina the Bee* promote awareness of bees’ ecological role and the importance of protecting them from environmental threats. This kind of environmental education fosters a culture of care that supports chemical reduction and sustainable beekeeping practices among future generations.
In addition to these initiatives, the website is also introducing incentives for each hive as part of an agro-ecological program. Membership to the website remains free, and the goal is to increase the number of members to celebrate the 2nd birthday of the website.
The website welcomes support from beekeeping institutions and friends in its mission to combat counterfeit honey, incentivize sustainable hive management, and limit harmful chemical use. These combined efforts address counterfeit honey challenges, hive incentives, and chemical use limitations in a holistic and community-oriented manner.
The website, in its mission to combat counterfeit honey and incentivize sustainable hive management, has launched an agro-ecological program that includes introducing incentives for each hive. To further advance these initiatives, the website seeks support from beekeeping institutions and friends across Europe. Meanwhile, technology plays a significant role in this endeavor, as the website facilitates collaboration among European beekeepers through its digital platform. Documenting best practices, promoting pollinator-friendly farming, and sharing educational resources like the eBook A Day in the Life of Katerina the Bee are all ways that technology aids in the pursuit of a sustainable and authentic European honey lifestyle.
