Informative sessions - Global bee health: Addressing emerging diseases and enhancing sustainable beekeeping

The beekeeping (apiculture) sector is key to contributing to food security through its pollination activity. This sector has been at the forefront of adopting sustainable practices aimed at reducing the reliance on medicines. Key to this effort are strict biosecurity measures and the development of beekeepers' capacities through both national and international beekeeping associations.

In Europe, for example, no antibiotics are registered for use in beekeeping, minimizing the risk of antibiotic residues in hive products and helping to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, challenges remain, particularly in the prevention and control of bee diseases. A significant gap remains in the development and implementation of national action plans to address the emergence and spread of new diseases.

Research on phages and the use of vaccination is currently underway to prevent bacterial diseases such as American foulbrood (AFB) and reduce the reliance on antimicrobials. Parasitic diseases like Varroosis and Tropilaelapsosis, as well as pests such as the small hive beetle, remain among the most pressing challenges. As bee diseases continue to spread across regions and borders, international cooperation has become more important than ever to protect global food security.

Join stakeholders, experts, and the general public for insightful sessions on bee health as we mark World Bee Day 2025.

 

 

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