“HUMANITY WILL EITHER STAND OR FALL ON ITS ABILITY TO PROTECT THEM.”
A hybrid event of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations was held on the 19th of May, and offered up informative, impassioned, and enlightened presentations.
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.
If you did not have an opportunity to attend this event it is worth viewing the recording online.
Engaging, was the presentation by Her Excellency, Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia, the country to initiate the establishment of a World Bee Day in 2016 at the FAO Regional Conference for Europe. Her Excellency spoke of the value of our pollinators, our honey bees, and their importance in environmental resilience. While addressing the positive elements of an awareness day, she highlighted our need to face the triple environmental crisis – climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, which has worsened, and “puts under threat humanities very survival”.
As Her Excellency says: “World Bee Day has contributed significantly to raising awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators and to promoting international cooperation to protect them,” and 2023 appears to have doubled down on that.
AGENDA AND SPEAKERS RECORDING OF GLOBAL WORLD BEE DAY CEREMONYPresenting too was Mr Lucas Garibaldi, President of the Apimondia Scientific Commission on Pollination and Bee Flora. It’s worth watching and a spoiler would be unjust, suffice to say of the many interesting points, he indicated that working with redesigned pollinator-friendly agricultural landscapes increased yields by 24%, and that pollinator diversity also had an impact on this yield value, not least contributing to overall healthier biodiversity.
It was all a buzz
Our favourite Texan Beekeeper, Ms Erika Thompson from Texas Beeworks, spoke directly to saving bees and pollinators in a brilliant and succinct presentation that captured the imagination.
For our business brands, an inspiring presentation by Mr Michele Zerbini, Purchasing Senior Manager of the Barilla Group. While their product (pasta) does not rely on pollination, the company has implemented enviable programs in partnership with the WWF to create pollinator value on their 2600 farms in the program.
Addressing pesticides, Ms Fani Hatjina, the Director of Institute of Animal Science, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “Demeter” and Department of Apiculture – spoke on pesticide homologation and pollinators. Getting into the nuts and bolts of pesticides in Q&A, it was mentioned that consumers should be made aware of what pesticides are being used in the growing of their foodstuffs.
Pesticides are one of the, if not the biggest threat to pollinators. Reference our list of active pesticide ingredients bad for bees.
BAD 4 BEESAs consumers, we should be advised about pesticides used in the growing of products we consume.
There were many other speakers whose knowledge and experience added to the event, and while one could write much on every presentation, it’s best left to you to enjoy first.
In summary, a One Health Approach needs to be adopted by all parties to break the impacts of the triple environmental crisis – climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Within which our pollinators play a pivotal role.
As Her Excellency Nataša Pirc Musar said: “humanity will either stand or fall on its ability to protect them.”