Partnership for sustainable apiculture – a national competence center for innovative organic beekeeping, applied knowledge transfer and participatory education

Within the project, we have promoted the ecological/organic apiculture sector in Romania through a series of educational (theoretical and practical) activities, but also by setting up a controlled bee breeding station and a processing unit for ecological bee products for the beekeepers network in Romania. 1,006 beekeepers attended seminars on bee health, natural and organic apiculture methods, long-lasting and practical methods of breeding bee families, theory and practice of adult growth, including selection and amelioration, CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) phenomena, and current developments in Romania, ecological and natural methods of beekeeping, including aspects of conversion. We conducted 4 study visits in Romania and 2 in Switzerland for experience exchange. A demonstrative apiary with 8 bee families was set up, in modern and traditional hives, which can be used both for beekeepers’ training and for demonstrations for the general public. We also organized 10 “bee days” and guided tours involving over 800 people (children, adults, people with disabilities). More than 18 tons of ecological beekeeping products have been processed in the established processing unit. The project also represented a means by which the Romanian apiculture products were promoted both on the Romanian market and on the foreign market.

Executive AgencyMelikoleg AssociationPartnersResearch Institute of Organic Agriculture (FIBL), SwitzerlandContract NumberPF 30ComponentPartnershipsCountySibiuImplementation areaNationalThematic areaCommunity DevelopmentImplementation period07.03.2015-06.03.2018Budget of the project (CHF)276,229Swiss Contribution (CHF)240,319Project websiteN/AExecutive Agency websitemelikoleg.ro