FAO celebrates World Bee Day and International Tea Day with joint exhibition

Rome, 21 May 2025 – FAO celebrated World Bee Day (20 May) and International Tea Day (21 May) with a joint exhibition and tasting event at its headquarters in Rome, underscoring the essential roles of pollinators and tea in global agrifood systems, livelihoods and cultures.  

The celebration showcased FAO’s broad support for pollinators and tea producers through various initiatives and programmes—including the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative.  

Bees: Vital for biodiversity and agrifood systems 

World Bee Day 2025 was observed under the theme “Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all,” spotlighting the indispensable role of pollinators in ensuring food security, maintaining ecosystems, and supporting climate resilience. 

FAO is helping countries advance sustainable beekeeping through several initiatives, technical cooperation programmes, and global partnerships that promote pollinator-friendly farming, environmental education, and market access for beekeepers. Four countries - Benin, Chile, Rwanda, and Viet Nam selected honey as their special agricultural product and FAO is supporting these countries to develop sustainable honey value chains. 

• Benin, developing a national investment programme for the honey sector with FAO’s support and exporting honey to the European Union. 

• Chile, exported approximately USD 17.2 million in honey in 2022 and promoting conservation of native pollinators in forest ecosystems. 

• Viet Nam, producing floral honeys from wildflowers and tropical fruits like longan, thanks to rich biodiversity and favourable conditions. 

• Rwanda, where growing demand for natural products is driving interest in honey production. FAO supports the national beekeeping strategy and access to modern technologies. 

Various kinds of tea are on display (left), ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito and honey products presented for tasting. ©FAO/MH Kawsar Rudro 

Tea: Cultivating sustainability and empowerment 

International Tea Day 2025, under the theme “Tea for better lives,” celebrated tea’s contributions to rural employment, especially for women, youth and smallholders, and its role in sustainable development. 

The global value of tea continues to grow. In 2023, the tea industry was worth over USD 50 billion, and it is projected to surpass USD 90 billion in the next five years. With this growth comes greater responsibility to promote sustainable practices, protect livelihoods, and reduce inequalities across the tea value chain. 

FAO supports tea-producing countries through diverse efforts to enhance environmental sustainability, product quality, and economic viability. Under the OCOP initiative, China and Lao People's Democratic Republic are promoting a sustainable tea value chain through innovation, market access, and environmentally friendly practices. 

• China, working with FAO to implement a low-carbon, ecological tea production system through the OCOP China Tea Programme, with a focus on value chain development, certification, and technology adoption. This year, the Fuding White Tea Culture System in Fujian Province, China, has been recognized as one of new Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) sites. The China main event for the 2025 International Tea Day was held in Hangzhou, celebrating tea’s cultural, economic, and social value while promoting global cooperation in tea industry development, trade, and cultural exchange. 

• Lao People's Democratic Republic, where tea production—often led by ethnic minorities and women—supports rural economies in remote, high-poverty areas. Both forest-grown and plantation tea are integral to local livelihoods. 

Celebrating connections: culture, nature and nutrition 

The joint exhibition brought together global voices and showcased the synergy between pollinators and tea. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu opened the event, reaffirming FAO’s commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems. 

“More than 60 percent of the world’s tea is produced by smallholders, many of whom are women and young people, and often in some of the world’s most vulnerable places,” he said. 

A highlight of the celebration was a tea tasting experience featuring distinctive teas from Azerbaijan, China, Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco, the Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation. Participants also joined a special edition of Markets and Trade Talks, where speakers shared personal stories and cultural insights about tea and honey from their home countries.