FAO celebrates World Bee Day with schoolchildren at Timiryazev Academy

Bees and other pollinators are vital for the life and wellbeing of people on our planet. The efficiency of agriculture and biodiversity conservation depend on them. At the same time, over 20 000 species of bees and other wild pollinators worldwide are threatened by a number of anthropogenic factors. These include habitat loss, overuse of pesticides, and adverse effects of climate change.

FAO is convinced that the youth of today have a leading role in addressing the challenges that bees and other pollinators face. This is why Bee Engaged with Youth is the theme of World Bee Day (WBD-2024).

On May 20, to mark WBD-2024, a stage of the DobroPchel 2024 All-Russian competition for schoolchildren from rural settlements and towns was held at the premises of Timiryazev Academy, a trusted partner of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation in Moscow.

“Do you know what animals on our planet are responsible for almost 30% of all plants, vegetables and fruits?” Eduard Porvatov, Consultant of the FAO Moscow Office, asked the young contestants and reminded them that these animals were, of course, bees but also other pollinators, such as bats.

By transferring pollen from one flower to the next, bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other pollinators contribute to an abundant harvest of agricultural crops and an increase in food production, thus facilitating food security. Therefore, the work of professor Alfir Mannapov, Head of the Department of Aquaculture and Beekeeping at the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, as well as his colleagues and students, is essential.

DobroPchel 2024 was primarily aimed at engaging schoolchildren in the work on priority areas of the National Technology Initiative.  In order to do this, they were introduced to high-tech projects and agricultural developments.

With the help of digital maps, the participants identified the best sites for apiaries and ways to protect bees from exposure to pesticides.  Using data archives and online access to “smart hives”, schoolchildren simulated the situation and produced a joint solution. Moreover, the contestants assembled a “smart hive” as part of the assignment. The nomination was held under the Department of Aquaculture and Beekeeping.

The contest at the apiary of the renowned Timiryazev Academy was one of thousands of events held during these days in various countries of the world where the love of beekeeping, one of the oldest types of human activity conducted in perfect harmony with nature, brings people together.

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On 22 May this year, the First International Forum for Action on Sustainable Beekeeping and Pollination organized by FAO took place in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. “This gathering shows that we can act locally for global impact,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in his opening remarks. “Together, we are part of a collective commitment to safeguard the vital role of bees and other pollinators to our agrifood systems.”

The FAO Director-General reminded the audience that young people were the leading protagonists of World Bee Day in 2024.  “Youth are the future guardians of the environment and play a key role in addressing today’s challenges for a better tomorrow,” he said. “By engaging young people in beekeeping activities, educational initiatives, and advocacy efforts, we can inspire a new generation of environmental leaders and empower them to make a positive impact on the world.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

It was for a reason that Bee Engaged with Youth became the theme of this year’s World Bee Day. Supporting youth initiatives in beekeeping accelerates the development and implementation of innovations and facilitates a creative approach and technological progress, which can help address the challenges small pollinators face, including global warming, the use of pesticides in agriculture, and the spread of pests.

Beekeeping is an activity that goes beyond a simple honey production and contributes to achieving many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Taking into account that beekeeping can be carried out with limited resources and the availability of local materials, it is a source of livelihood for those living in extreme poverty, thereby increasing the resilience of rural and indigenous communities.

FAO has long been committed to using biological plant pest control methods and restricting the use of pesticides for this purpose. This is done through the Pollination Services for Sustainable Agriculture global initiative with the goal to ensure greater diversity of habitats in agricultural and urban environments.