World Bee Day 2023 Opening Remarks

World Bee Day 2023

Opening Remarks

By

Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

19 May 2023

 

Her Excellency the President of Slovenia

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

 

Welcome to the 6^th edition of World Bee Day.

 

It is my great honour and pleasure to be joined for the first time by Her Excellency the President of Slovenia, since the establishment of this important international day.

 

This is an initiative which is very close to my heart.

 

Slovenia was the country that first supported the establishment of a World Bee Day back in 2016 at the FAO Regional Conference for Europe. At that time I was the Vice Minister for Agriculture of China and was among the first to support this initiative.

 

And in 2017 the UN General Assembly proclaimed 20 May annually as World Bee Day.

 

I am also joined by His Excellency the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to FAO. Thank you for being here with us.

 

I would also like to thank the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations – APIMONDIA - and in particular it’s President, Mr Jeff Pettis, for his continuous support. We have been collaborating closely since 2019.

 

FAO recognizes the importance of bees and other pollinators, as they are fundamental for ensuring healthy ecosystems and plant health.

 

Around 75% of the world’s crops – which produce fruits and seeds for human use – depend, at least in part, on pollinators. I was a plant breeder, so I know well the importance of pollinators for plants, and for evolution

 

Bees and other pollinators provide precious ecosystem services – working continuously to ensure pollination that allow plants to thrive and reproduce. They contribute to maintaining the diversity of plants, including many species of wild plants, as well as the production of an abundance of diverse and nutritious fruit, vegetables and nut species.

 

Unfortunately, bees and other pollinators are facing multiple threats and challenges – such as intensive monoculture production, improper use of pesticides, and overuse of chemical treatments, and other industrial pollutions such as water, air and soil pollution thereby destroying their ecosystems and homes.

 

Therefore, protecting bees and other pollinators is essential to guarantee agricultural production, food security, ecosystem restoration and nutrition worldwide,

 

The theme for this year’s World Bee Day is “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”.

 

What do we consider to be “pollinator-friendly practices”?

 

These include: crop rotation and diversity, reducing the use of pesticides, and restoring and protecting the habitat of pollinators.

 

Even the adoption of precision agriculture tools and innovation can protect bees. Using technology and data to optimize fertilizer and irrigation practices reduces excessive nutrients and chemicals in water, which harm pollinators and their habitats.

 

When we promote these types of farming practices, we can help ensure that bees and other pollinators continue to play their critical role in agrifood systems, to ensure they are more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable.

 

What is FAO doing to protect bees and other pollinators?

 

We are committed to supporting Members to implement pollinator-friendly agricultural production practices by:

• First: supporting sustainable beekeeping practices;
• Second: providing guidance on the adequate use of pesticides; and
• Third: encouraging pollinator-friendly agricultural production.

 

We also look forward to helping raise awareness and advocate for pollinator conservation by working side-by-side with all relevant partners, including the private sector and farmers’ organizations, civil society, academia and other intergovernmental institutions.

 

Dear Colleagues,                                                  

 

Our food security, nutrition and the health of our planet depend greatly on bees and pollinators, and the celebration of World Bee Day is a reminder of the urgent need to prioritize efforts to protect them.

 

I look forward to our increased collaboration to find new and innovative ways to “Bee Engaged”!

 

Thank you.