Regional Multistakeholder Meeting on Digital Tools for Genetic Diversity of Pollinators

Chisinau, Republic of Moldova & Online

Hybrid Event, 09/04/2025 - 11/04/2025

Background

In the context of accelerating biodiversity loss and the impacts of climate change, pollinators play a critical role in sustaining food systems and ecosystems. To advance knowledge and foster collaboration, the Regional Multistakeholder Meeting on Digital Tools for Genetic Diversity of Pollinators, organized by FAO, will convene government officials, technical experts, and innovation leaders to explore the potential of digital technologies in monitoring and safeguarding pollinator genetic diversity.

Held over two days, the event will feature practical case studies and national experiences with a wide range of digital tools—including spectral imaging, machine learning, genome-wide monitoring, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, and citizen science platforms.

Key components of the event include:

Technical presentations on digital innovation in pollinator monitoring
Country-led sessions showcasing tools and practices at the national level
Breakout discussions to define concrete follow-up actions
High-level opening with contributions from FAO, national governments, and UN representatives

This meeting forms part of FAO’s broader commitment to supporting biodiversity-friendly agricultural systems and advancing the digital transformation of the agri-food sector.

Together, we aim to shape a forward-looking agenda—where science, policy, and innovation converge to protect pollinators and ensure resilient ecosystems.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://fao.zoom.us/j/92325434837?pwd=R5ZPWTTHXxxGoSGWyNaFYWLZyi059t.1
Meeting ID: 923 2543 4837
Passcode: 24929320

Agenda:

Day 1; 9 April: Understanding the Digital Landscape in Pollinator Monitoring

Morning Session (Main Event and Side Event): 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Opening Session (9:00 – 10:30 AM) (Moderator: Tudor Robu & Yuriy Nesterov)

Welcome remarks from the State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry - (Iurie Scripnic) - 10 Min.; 9:00 AM

Welcome remarks from FAO Regional Programme Leader (Raimund Jehle) - 10 Min.; 9:20 AM

Welcome remarks from Assistant FAO Representative in Türkiye (Aysegül Selisik) - 10 Min.; 9:30 AM

Keynote speech: "The Role of Digital Innovation in Pollinator Monitoring." - Max Rünzel (TBC) - 10 Min.; 9:40 AM

Participant introductions and event objectives (Name, Country, Organization) - 10 Min.; 10:00 AM

Coffee break 10:30 - 11:00 AM

Session 1 (11:00 – 12:30 PM) - Case Study Presentations 1, 2, 3 & 4, and Open Discussion (Moderator: Tudor Robu & Yuriy Nesterov)

The Future of Pollinator Conservation: Digital Genetic Tools (Dr. Toheed Iqbal) - 10 Minutes; 11 am

PolliGen: A Citizen Science-Driven Digital Platform for Monitoring Pollinator Genetic Diversity (Riccardo Rubini) - 10 Minutes; 11:15 am

Genetic and genome-wide studies among pollinator bees (Fatih Dikmen) - 10 Minutes; 11:30 am

Monitoring of genetic diversity in pollinators using new indicators (Linda Laikre) - 10 Minutes; 11:45 am

Q&A and open discussion - 20 Minutes; 12:00 PM

Lunch Break (12:30 – 1:30 PM)

Afternoon Session: 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Session 2 (1:30 – 3:30 PM) - Country Presentations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7, and Open Discussion (Moderator: Tudor Robu & Yuriy Nesterov)

Digital Monitoring Tools for Pollination - Country Perspectives

Turkmenistan - 10 Min.; 1:30 PM

Türkiye - 10 Min.; 1:45 PM

Moldova - 10 Min.; 2 PM

Ukraine - 10 Min.; 2:15 PM

Serbia - 10 Min.; 2:30 PM

Montenegro - 10 Min.; 2:45 PM

Kyrgyzstan - 10 Min.; 3:00 PM

Q&A and open discussion - 15 Min.; 3:15 PM

Coffee Break (3:30 – 4:00 PM)

Session 3 (4:00 – 5:00 PM) - Country Presentations 8, 9, 10 & 11, and Open Discussion (Moderator: Tudor Robu & Yuriy Nesterov)

Digital Monitoring Tools for Pollination - Country Perspectives

Kazakhstan - 10 Min.; 4:00 PM

Azerbaijan - 10 Min.; 4:15 PM

Uzbekistan - 10 Min.; 4:30 PM

Tajikistan - 10 Min.; 4:45 PM

Q&A and open discussion - 10 Min.; 4:55 PM

Day 2; 10 April: Building a Roadmap for the Future

Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Session 4 (9:00 – 11:00 AM) - Case Study Presentations 7, 8, 9 & 10, and Open Discussion (Moderator: Tudor Robu & Yuriy Nesterov)

The Importance of Digitization in Pollination (TBD) - 10 Min.; 9:00 AM

Use of Maldi BeeTyping as a solution to monitor the health of pollinators (immunity and stress impact) at the scale of territories (Michel Bocquet) - 10 Min.; 9:15 AM

"Digital Monitoring of Microbial Diversity in Honeybees for Enhancing Health and Pesticide Detoxification" (Dr. Mohammad Abdul Waseem) - 10 Min.; 9:30 AM

Adapting Spectral Imaging and Machine Learning for Real-Time Pollinator Monitoring: A Scalable Approach (Sama Huseynova) - 10 Min.; 9:45 AM

Digital Innovation for Enhancing the Genetic Diversity of Bee Pollinators in Ethiopia (Habtamu Abera Goshu) - 10 Min.; 10 AM

Q&A and open discussion - 30 Minutes; 10:15 AM

Coffee Break (11:00 – 11:30 AM)

Session 5 (11:30 – 12:30 PM) - Case Study Presentations 11, 12 & 13, and Open Discussion (Moderator: Tudor Robu & Yuriy Nesterov)

beeplants.eu, a citizen science study to provide a baseline for food sharing amongst honeybees, bumble bees, solitary bees, hoverflies and "other insects" (Jozef van der Steen, Flemming Vejsnæs, Ole Kilpinen (TBD) - 10 Minutes; 11:30 AM

Gene Banking and Conservation of Pollinators in Georgia (Dr. Kakha NADIRADZE) - 10 Minutes; 11:45 AM

Monitoring Pollinator Diversity through Environmental DNA Analysis (eDNA) (Belcks Sandra Matos Viola) - 10 Minutes; 12:00 PM

Q&A and open discussion - 15 Minutes; 12:15 PM

Lunch Break (12:30 – 1:30 PM)

Afternoon Session (Main Event & Side Event): 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Session 6: Call for Actions & Next Steps (1:30 – 3:30 PM) (Moderator: Tudor Robu & Yuriy Nesterov)

Global Initiatives related to Pollinators and Beekeeping (Thanawat Tiensin, Director of Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) - 10 Minutes; 1:30 PM

Breakout discussions by group (Social, Economic, Environmental): Concrete calls for actions/recommendations for each stakeholder group - 30 Minutes; 1:45 PM

What are our regional priorities?

What do we want from the global community?

Drafting the call for actions for follow-up initiatives - 30 Minutes; 2:15 PM

Discussion on establishing a regional network on apiculture and pollination

Group presentations of proposed next steps - 30 Minutes; 2:45 PM