On May 20, the world celebrates International Bee Day. The day has been celebrated since 2018 on the initiative of the Slovenian Association of Beekeepers with the support of the Government of Slovenia, approved by a resolution of the UN General Assembly on December 20, 2017.
The aim is to inform the public about the importance of bees and bee products, as well as the issues related to the protection of endangered bees.
The day is the anniversary of the birth of the Slovenian Anton Janša, who studied the reproduction of bees and laid the foundations of modern beekeeping.
Bees and other pollinators are fundamental for the health of ecosystems and food security. They help maintain biodiversity and ensure the production of nutritious food. However, intensive monoculture production and improper use of pesticides pose serious threats to pollinators by reducing their access to food and nesting sites, exposing them to harmful chemicals, and weakening their immune systems.
Under the theme “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”, World Bee Day 2023 calls for global action to support pollinator-friendly agricultural production and highlights the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators, particularly through evidence-based agricultural production practices.
The global World Bee Day ceremony, which has been held in hybrid format at the FAO headquarters on Friday, 19 May, as an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of adopting pollinator-friendly agricultural production practices to protect bees and other pollinators, while contributing to the resilience, sustainability and efficiency of agrifood systems.
Photo: FAO
