Congress 2019

8 — 12 September 2019 • Montréal, Canada

Beekeeping is an agricultural industry that depends largely on farmers. They grow different crops on the land, using different plant protection products that can also pose a threat for bees. Good cooperation between farmers and beekeepers is therefore indispensable, since farmers also need bees for the production of certain agricultural plants that depend on pollinators.

That is why this year’s theme of the congress is: Working together in agriculture.

Beekeepers have many challenges. The trade in honey and other bee products is one of the largest ones. The honey collected by bees and harvested by the beekeeper often does not reach the final consumer with its original quality and thus the reputation of honey and beekeepers is reduced. Therefore, we urgently need a better regulation of the market and an affordable analysis of honey, which will clearly distinguish the genuine products from the adulterated ones.

We also have challenges in the area of global climate change, globalisation, transfer of bee diseases and pests, the implementation of new technologies and so on. That is why we need faster transfer of knowledge than ever before in history.

We can all be happy and proud that the reputation of beekeeping among the public in many countries and regions has been rising in recent times. This is very important because certain problems in beekeeping cannot be solved by ourselves and we need the support and help of the general public and authorities.

Undoubtedly, the World Bee Day has contributed greatly to this; it also offers many opportunities to give more visibility to the sector. Nevertheless, there are many challenges in beekeeping, which can only be solved with updated knowledge and the transfer of it.

Apimondia 2009 was hosted by the Canadian Honey Council at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal, Canada.