Designation of our site as a member of the HONEY Platform's Specialist Team
The European Commission has taken a significant step towards supporting beekeepers and promoting sustainable apiculture practices within the EU. The Commission has established a Honey Platform, an initiative aimed at improving honey production, protecting bees, and ensuring fair trade conditions for EU honey producers.
The Honey Platform's objectives include supporting sustainable beekeeping, improving honey production quality, and enhancing market conditions. To achieve these goals, the Commission is focusing on various key areas.
Innovations to support beekeepers are at the forefront of the Commission's efforts. For instance, a newly developed device, highly efficient in removing Varroa mites (a major bee pest), has been introduced. This device automates mite removal, operates under environmentally safe conditions, has lower costs than competitors, and helps beekeepers transition to organic methods, supporting sustainable apiculture and biodiversity goals aligned with EU Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
Another crucial aspect of the Commission's efforts is the protection and recovery of pollinator populations. Projects such as STING and SPRING have been launched to scientifically monitor and restore wild pollinator populations, essential for honeybee health and ecosystem services. These programs aim to fill knowledge gaps on pollinator decline, support biodiversity, and establish robust monitoring frameworks for long-term sustainability of pollinator populations in Europe.
Trade frameworks and standards are also being addressed by the Commission. The EU is actively managing trade agreements, such as the one with Ukraine, to ensure agricultural and apiculture products meet EU standards, protecting internal markets and supporting fair trade conditions for EU honey producers.
The role of an appointed member like [Your Website's Name] on the Honey Platform is to facilitate information sharing and communication between beekeepers, researchers, and policymakers. The member can also support the dissemination and uptake of innovations like Varroa mite removal technologies, assist with market access and quality certification schemes that align with EU standards, participate in monitoring and reporting activities to track honey production and pollinator health, and promote best practices for sustainable and organic beekeeping.
The Honey Platform is expected to provide recommendations for Union traceability, composition criteria, and the possibility of establishing a Union reference laboratory. The Platform will also assist the Commission in harmonizing methods to detect adulteration in honey, helping consumers make informed choices by increasing transparency in the food chain.
[Your Website's Name], with its expertise in apiculture and commitment to sustainable practices, has been appointed as a member of the Honey Platform expert group by the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development from Brussels. The call for applications for the Honey Platform was open until July 15, and the Platform, consisting of up to 90 members, will gather data for methods to improve authenticity controls of honey.
This initiative by the European Commission is a significant step towards ensuring the authenticity, traceability, and sustainability of honey production within the EU, benefiting both beekeepers and consumers alike. With the Honey Platform in place, the EU is poised to establish clearer rules on the origin and composition of honey, ensuring a more transparent and sustainable food chain for all.
References: [1] European Commission. (n.d.). Innovative device for Varroa mite control in beehives. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/innovative-device-varroa-mite-control-beehives_en [2] European Commission. (n.d.). EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12445-EU-Ukraine-Association-Agreement [3] European Commission. (n.d.). STING project. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/h2020-widespread-2018-two-stage-sting_en.pdf [4] European Commission. (n.d.). SPRING project. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/h2020-widespread-2018-two-stage-spring_en.pdf
- The Honey Platform, with [Your Website's Name] as a member, is working towards enhancing health-and-wellness by focusing on sustainable beekeeping practices and nutrition, as they aim to protect and recover pollinator populations and improve the quality of honey production.
- [Your Website's Name], through its involvement in the Honey Platform, is promoting a lifestyle that embraces food-and-drink choices that align with EU Sustainable Development Goals, such as the use of innovative Varroa mite removal devices that support organic methods and biodiversity, and the monitoring and restoration of pollinator populations.
