Brussels, 05/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - European agricultural organisations Copa and Cogeca held the 2015 awards ceremony to promote pollinator-friendly farming practices.
At the event, which was hosted by MEP Tibor Szanyi, Copa and Cogeca awarded first prize to a French project from the region of Aisne for good agricultural practices vis-à-vis pollinators. The pollinators and agricultural practices prize was awarded for the first time this year and seeks to promote good practices and collaboration between farmers and beekeepers.
Copa-Cogeca Secretary General Pekka Pesonen said that European farmers and growers recognise the need to have suitable conditions in Europe to protect pollinators as they play a key role in safeguarding a sustainable European agriculture sector. At the same time, he noted, bees rely on crops for their food. “A lot of good practices have therefore been developed by farmers and growers”, he said.
Szanyi stated his main message: “No bees, No food”. “The future of mankind lies partly in the hands of beekeepers. We have to step up research to find solutions”, he argued.
First prize went to the project “Poll' Aisne Attitude” created in the region of Aisne by members of the French farm organisation FNSEA for good agricultural practices vis-à-vis pollinators. Over a five year period, 100 new beehives were set up in the department, with 100 farmers signing up to the code of good practice.
Second prize went to a Swedish project from the region of Ransta, West of Stockholm, covering 800 hectares owned by three farmers. The 3-year project, “The Pollinator”, created an environment with many pollinating species with guaranteed pollen and nectar flow from early spring to late summer. Already into its third year, the project has set itself new objectives, such as how windy surroundings impact on harvest, pollen collecting impact and Phacelias impact on soil and energy consumption. Key organisations in the project were two Swedish beekeeping organisations, the Swedish Farmers Association (LRF), Swedish Seed Growers, the Swedish Board of Agriculture, The Swedish Transport Administration, Farmers Grain Cooperative, and an agricultural college.
Third prize was awarded to the agri-cooperative CAVAC, a member of Coop de France, for its APAP Project which involved managing rural areas and amending agricultural practices to encourage pollinators. The project resulted in an improvement in yields and increase in honey production. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)