Let it be honey. FAO celebrates World Bee Day

For the second year in a row, the Liaison Office with the Russian Federation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is hosting a webinar dedicated to World Bee Day with the participation of representatives of government agencies, academia and applied science, the private sector and beekeepers themselves to raise awareness of the important role of bees and other pollinators in our lives. This year's discussion took place within the framework of the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly, in which FAO plays a leading role in cooperation with other UN agencies.

The event was moderated by Mr Oleg Kobiakov, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation. He congratulated all beekeepers and noted the undoubted importance of holding such an event in anticipation of the 47th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress (International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations) in Ufa, postponed from 2021 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Kobiakov noted that the webinar is designed to draw the attention of the general public to this significant event and justify the proposal to put forward the Bashkir wild-honey farming as a promising object of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

Mr Nikolai Nikolaev, Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, Property and Land, the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, noted in his video message, that "bees have always been an indicator of the ecological health of a particular territory." He said that the State Duma recently adopted a law on beekeeping, which, however, did not cover all beekeepers. Mr Nikolaev expressed readiness to take part in discussions of initiatives and to help in adoption of particular decisions promoting development of the industry.

In a video message on the occasion of World Bee Day 2021, Mr Branko Rakovec, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia to the Russian Federation, noted, that "we are very pleased that Slovenia's initiative has received the support of the United Nations." The Ambassador also drew attention to the fact that the date of May 20 is of great importance for beekeeping, since on this day in 1734 Anton Janša was born, a beekeeper and artist of Slovenian origin, who laid the foundations of modern beekeeping.

Dr Sergey Rodin, PhD in Agriculture, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Distinguished Forester of the Russian Federation, Acting Director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Silviculture and Mechanization of Forestry (ARRISMF), stressed the importance of beekeeping in the economy, and also spoke about the efforts made by the Federal Agency for Forestry to support the sustainable development of beekeeping.

Mr Aghasi Harutyunyan, Deputy Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, presented a new infographic released by FAO for World Bee Day 2021: "The pollination services of forests: Forest and landscape interventions and their benefits", which is based on a thematic publication explaining the importance of using competent management methods in this area of management, creating favorable conditions for pollination.

"The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are aimed at achieving a balance between human well-being and the conservation of natural resources by 2030 by meeting 169 targets and more than 200 indicators," said Mr Vladimir Moshkalo, Head of UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Office in Russia. In his speech, the Head of the UNEP Russia Office described in detail 15 of the 17 SDGs to which bees and other pollinators potentially contribute.

Dr Alfir Mannapov, Head of the National Association of Beekeepers and Beekeeper Processors, Head of the Department of Aquaculture and Apiculture at the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, spoke about the latest innovations in the development of beekeeping, especially noting the adoption of the law on the protection of bees in December 2020. "In the Russian Federation, the bulk of the beekeeping products produced belong to amateur beekeepers," Dr Mannapov stressed. In this regard, he mentioned the amendments to the Federal law "On apiculture" supported by the relevant committee of the Federation Council, which secured the right of amateur beekeepers to enjoy the same benefits that apply to industrial beekeepers. In addition, the expert spoke in detail about the initiative to establish centers for breeding various breeds of bees in the Federal Districts of Russia.

Mr Mikhail Kosarev, Director of the Shulgan-Tash, State Natural Biosphere Reserve, noted the fruitful international cooperation and successful projects of the reserve, as well as the accumulated extensive experience in bee conservation. "Bashkiria is home to a third of the world's and half of Russia's linden stocks, and our native bees work best on this honey plant, so this topic has an economic basis," concluded Mr. Kosarev.

Mr Revner Baitulin, Director, Bashkir Scientific Research Center for Beekeeping and Apitherapy, member of the steering committee of Apimondia-2021, told the participants in detail about the preparation for the Congress, highlighting its scientific and research component. He underscored the special meaning of the theme chosen, ‘Bees as a factor of human economic and environmental well-being’.

Mr Sergei Tastan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, National Association of Beekeepers, ’Union of Beekeepers and Processors of Bee Products of Altai’ said that work was being conducted to develop a roadmap for apiculture in the Russian Federation. The expert spoke of what the country had already achieved with regard to the legal framework and also told the audience about digitalization projects in this field.

Mr Yurii Rudakov, President, Union of Wild Crop Processors ‘National Eco-Resource’, noted that honey was a natural preserving agent for wild crop, as well as expressed his willingness to cooperate with other organizations, apiaries, scientific centres and natural reserves to promote apiculture and preserve its cultural heritage.

Mr Sergei Muliukov, Executive Director, OOO ‘Bashkirskie Paseki+’, highlighted measures taken to facilitate business and attract new beekeepers, namely: allocation of special areas for apiaries with a 3 km zone protected from logging; long-term rent for 49 years under a simplified and digitalized procedure (interactive mode allows to look at the areas and complete the formalization process online); simplification of the regional control regime for private beekeepers ensuring that no harm is done to the ecosystem; restoration of lost annual areas. Mr Muliukov suggested that linden tree seeds and seedings should be added to the forest restoration programme as one of the prioritized tree species.

Ms Anfisa Musina and Mr Oleg Musin are hereditary beekeeping farmers from the Perm Territory who have been engaged in apiculture for more than 10 years. They told the audience about the organic products produced at the family apiary: there were 50 beehives at their disposal plus 50 new sites, all on an area of 13 hectares. 

Ms Aiguzel Khasanova, student at Bashkir State University, highlighted the region’s traditions and its favourable conditions for honey cultivation, such as a clear legal framework, large forest area, and biodiversity. She expressed her hope for Russia to become a global leader in apiculture.

Apiculture is rooted deep in the Russian history and is an important element of  the country’s food and environmental security, a source of a valuable food product and a livelihood for much of the rural population. 

“We have a programme on Baskir honey and on preparation for the Apimondia Congress, we are also planning joint projects with the participants of this event. Therefore I am glad that this year we have conducted a field-specific seminar that has given us an opportunity to have an in-depth look at a professional topic and define further plans,” concluded Mr Oleg Kobiakov, Director, FAO Office in Moscow.

Watch the archived webinar discussion. 

Our background: 

On 20 December 2017, the UN General Assembly established the World Bee Day in its resolution A/RES/72/211 to the enormous role played by bees and other pollinators to sustain people’s and planet’s health. Slovenia together with the FAO played the key role it the establishment of this day through the resolution with the support from the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations — Apimondia.

The theme of the World Bee Day this year is ‘Bee engaged - Build Back Better for Bees’. It is celebrated at a time when many countries are still confronting large-scale consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Protection of bees and pollinators is part of the One Health approach that recognizes the interconnectedness human, animal and plant health and the environment. It increases sustainability, including against future pandemics, supports green growth and development. 

The FAO plays a leading role in facilitating and coordinating the International Pollinators Initiative. The FAO's Global Action on Pollination Services for Sustainable Agriculture helped to start collaboration with partners on such matters as pollinators and the programme of work on pollination issues, including through the promotion of cooperation, provision technical assistance and preparation of recommendations on policies, as well as project implementation.

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