The number of hives and beekeepers in the EU has increased over the years, resulting in an increase in EU honey production of 16% between 2014 and 2018. This is one of the main conclusions of the report on the implementation of EU beekeeping programmes, published on Tuesday 17 December by the European Commission.
However, the report points out that, considering the overall profitability of the sector, “EU average prices have not increased, while production costs are increasing and import prices decreasing”. “This poses challenges for the sector and indicates a continued need for support, also considering the important role of bees for the environment and agriculture.”
The report shows that in 2018, the sector produced 280,000 tonnes of honey, making the EU the second largest producer of honey after China (550,000 tonnes). EU production has increased by 16%, but the EU still does not produce enough honey to cover its own consumption. The main supplier of imported honey is China (40% of imports), followed by Ukraine (20%).
EU funds for the beekeeping sector have increased from €36 million per year for the 2017-2019 beekeeping programmes to €40 million per year for the 2020-2022 programmes. The funds have not been fully utilised, but the utilisation rate is high.
The report also shows that in 2018, as in previous years, two measures (technical assistance and combating beehive attackers) receive the bulk of the available funding (almost 60% for the two measures combined). This is because operators in the sector must continue to invest in beekeeping equipment and update beekeeping practices to combat diseases and aggressors in the hive.
Link to the report: http://bit.ly/2r48L3L (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)