Celebrating the Buzz: The Journey of Beekeeping from Ancient Times to Modern Challenges
Lumi Amélie Drozzin
International Business and Circular Economy Professional | Strategy, Policy, and Agricultural Sector Expert
The Background of EU Pollinator Week
Since 2012, the European Parliament has annually organized the European Pollinator Week. Bees provide invaluable services to Europeans, significantly contributing to quantitative and qualitative food security. The EU Pollinator Week is an essential platform for stakeholders to gather, exchange views, and increase awareness in the field.
The History of Beekeeping in Finland and the EU
Beekeeping dates back about 10,000 years, as evidenced by cave paintings in Valencia, Spain. Approximately 9,000 years ago, early humans in North Africa began building artificial beehives using materials such as clay pots. Fragments of these ancient pots have been found with bee wax, indicating the widespread adoption of beekeeping in the Near East (Universal Journal of Pharmacy, 2014 & Food and Foodways, 2011).
Egyptian art documents beekeeping practices dating back about 4,500 years, with evidence of beekeeping found in the tombs of pharaohs, such as the famous Tutankhamun's tomb (The World History of Beekeeping and Honey Hunting, 1999).
Beekeeping in Finland: A Historical Perspective
The golden era of beekeeping in Finland began in the early 20th century. Between 1902 and 1917, a beekeeping school operated actively, training about 400-500 students each summer.
Initially, beekeeping was primarily practiced by farmers (70%) and elementary school teachers. Still, the field was open to all enthusiasts and advertised as suitable for everyone. By the 1920s, Finland reported 1,969 beekeepers owning at least 0.5 hectares of cultivated land.
Beekeeping was particularly popular in Southwest Finland, Southwest H?me, and Western Uusimaa. During World War II, bee colonies remained relatively stable. However, beekeeping increased significantly towards the end of the 1930s without expanding into new areas, focusing more densely on existing ones (Laine, 2005).
Beekeeping Globally: A Diverse Practice
Beekeeping has historically been highly esteemed on all continents. Before the widespread adoption of agriculture, bee colonies were usually destroyed during honey and wax collection, as storage of these products was unnecessary and wild colonies were plentiful. This practice changed as agriculture became more common, leading to the development of more efficient resource utilization and breeding activities (Wolf, 2013).
The most significant advancements in beekeeping occurred in the 18th century in Europe, and the methods developed there still form the foundation of modern beekeeping.
In the 19th century, Europe saw the widespread adoption of movable frame beehives, which enabled the expansion of commercial honey production in the EU and the USA. However, evidence of movable-frame hives in Greece dates back over 3,000 years ?(Bee World, 2012).
Bees primarily provided honey and wax, which were used for various purposes. For example, during the Middle Ages, monasteries used wax for candle making, and honey was used to make mead in regions of Europe where wine cultivation was not possible (Kritsky, 2017).
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Modern Beekeeping in Finland: Adapting to Change
In Finland today, beekeeping continues to evolve. With climate change impacting the environment, Finnish beekeepers are adopting new strategies to maintain healthy bee populations.
The Economic Value of Pollination
Pollinators, primarily bees, play a vital role in global agriculture. The economic value of pollination services is estimated to be between €235 billion and €577 billion annually worldwide, €3.7 billion in the European Union and between €50 to €60 million in Finland (Drozzin, 2020).
Challenges Facing the Beekeeping and Pollinator Sector
The beekeeping industry faces several challenges, including climate change, the use of pesticides, disease pressure, and habitat loss. Climate change affects flowering patterns and interactions with other species, leading to mismatches in pollination timing.
Disease pressure, such as the spread of the Varroa mite, poses a significant threat to bee health (Beekeeping under climate change, 2023. Kaila, 2023.)
The Future of Beekeeping and Pollination
Looking ahead, the future of beekeeping and pollination services is intertwined with our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable agricultural practices. Research and innovation are crucial to overcoming the challenges faced by the sector.
A Call to Action for Pollinator Protection
As we celebrate European Pollinator Week, it's crucial to remember pollinators' vital role in our ecosystem and food supply. Each of us can contribute to protecting these invaluable creatures. Whether through supporting local beekeeping, planting pollinator-friendly gardens, or advocating for policies that promote biodiversity, our collective actions make a difference.
Join us in celebrating European Pollinator Week and commit to actions that support our pollinators. Together, we can ensure a sustainable future for bees and other pollinators, vital to our shared environment and food security.
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Beekeeping Manager / Apiary Manager - Bee Specialist , Proficient in Web Technologies including E-commerce business app development, Digital Marketing, Search Engine Paid and Non Paid marketing.
11 个月Sustainable beekeeping involves establishing a natural ecosystem that supports bees year-round with abundant natural pollen and nectar. It minimizes human intervention, allowing bees to thrive in their environment. Over the past three years, I've been experimenting with this approach in my backyard in India, managing a few hives. The results have been promising: syrup feeding decreased by 70%, hive losses reduced, and certain hive positions consistently show improved performance. Now, I'm exploring the potential correlation between geomagnetic fields and bee growth and sustainability.
Artiste
1 年Amelie, merci pour toutes ces informations et comme tu le dis si justement en conclusion :? "... we should remember the significance of pollinators every time we eat or put on our clothes". ??
Tohtorikoulutettava/PhD student at University of Helsinki
1 年Kiitos mielenkiintoisesta tekstist?!
Communications and Public Affairs Lead at Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund + Communications Manager at the World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF)
1 年What a nice way of drawing the timeline of beekeeping! ??
International Business and Circular Economy Professional | Strategy, Policy, and Agricultural Sector Expert
1 年ping MTK ry – Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners & Sitra