Apimondia Apimondia International Apiculture Congress in Istanbul
Bees for Development article
Nicola Bradbear, Bees for Development
Apimondia is the World Federation of Beekeeping Associations –its members are the world’s national associations, and every second year Apimondia organises a major Congress. Since Apimondia was formed 127 years ago, this makes Apimondia’s Congress one of the oldest in the world! Like the Olympics, nations bid to host the Congress years in advance – and five years ago, in Istanbul in 2017, Russia won their bid to host the Congress in the city of Ufa, South of Moscow, in 2021. Of course, COVID intervened such that the event planned for 2021 had to be postponed, and by March this year, it was clear that the war in Ukraine meant that an alternative venue must be found, without time for a normal bidding process. The Apimondia Executive Council took the expedient decision to hastily organise a Congress in Istanbul – it was feasible as we already had valuable experience of running the 2017 Congress there, and by good chance the same venue was available for dates this August. This meant that the Congress had to be hastily re-organised in just five months a process that normally takes four years! And thus the 47th Apimondia Congress took place during 24-28th of August --a slightly shorter Congress than usual, but nevertheless 3,700 people attended, representing 119 nations, though missing delegates from China and a few other nations that still have Covid-related travel restrictions. The Executive Council took the opportunity to organise this Congress slightly differently - addressing three major topics during each morning of the three working days of the Congress: Honey purity and authenticity, Climate change, and Nature-based Beekeeping. The Congress Scientific Programme contained a further 22 Symposia addressing specific topics, as well as Round Tables and Workshops. All this was accompanied by a huge Trade Exhibition, the World Beekeeping Awards, Apimondia’s General Assembly, and Technical Tours. As we have come to expect from our Turkish hosts, there was a beautiful opening ceremony with bee dancers and music, and a vibrant closing ceremony too. As President of Apimondia’s Scientific Commission Beekeeping for Rural Development, I organised the major symposium on Nature-based Beekeeping. As you will appropriate from the article on pages 5–7, Nature-based Beekeeping has wide definition, and this session was planned to highlight good, best beekeeping practises already underway worldwide, and on commercial scale. After my introduction, we heard from beekeepers around the world practising nature-based beekeeping at scale. From Europe, we heard Sébastien Bonjour and Anne Bonjour-Dalmon describe Sébastien’s operation of a commercial bee farm with 1,500 colonies in France, aiming to interfere as little as possible with the colonies, and with a respectful attitude towards the bees – this includes never to kill queen bees. From North America, we heard from Tucka Saville, a full-time beekeeper living from her commercial, naturebased beekeeping, managing 300 colonies in South Florida, treatment-free and highly bee-friendly. 38
From South America, we heard from Pablo Chipulina, who works in the northern area of the province of Chaco, Argentina. This area has few roads and little communication, meaning that the indigenous and Creole people who live there have few job opportunities. Organic beekeeping is now enabling more than 74 families to build good livelihoods. They have created the Association of Young People of the Impenetrable Chaqueño, an organisation that brings together producers in the area. They have 1,750 honey bee colonies managed according to organic protocol. Sadly Pablo was ill at the time of the Congress and his talk was kindly presented on his behalf by Marta Soneira. From Africa, we heard from Janet Lowore and Dickson Biryomumaisho, explaining the importance of nature-based beekeeping in Africa and emphasising the importance of the feasibility of beekeeping for financially poor people. Finally we heard talks from Apimondia Presidents of Commissions: Fani Hatjina on treatment-free beekeeping, and Cristina Mateescu, on the need for clean, residue -free bee produce for use in apitherapy. This was just a glimpse of one session - there were of course hundreds of other talks presented during the Congress – that is the joy of an Apimondia Congress! At the closing ceremony the consortium of Scandinavian nations Denmark, Norway and Sweden won the voting to host the Congress in Copenhagen in 2025. Before that, next year in September 2023, the Congress will get back on schedule with the Apimondia Congress in Santiago, Chile. It promises to be a wonderful event, where these discussions will continue! During this Congress I stepped down as President of the Apimondia Scientific Commission Beekeeping for Rural Development – I am delighted that Megan Denver of USA won the Members’ vote to replace me in this role – Congratulations Megan!
Natural Bee Husbandry Magazine | No. 25, Autumn 2022 | Incorporating Bees for Development Journal No. 144