On February 20-21, 2025, Chișinău became the center of innovation in beekeeping, hosting the National Beekeeping Forum 2025, organized by the National Beekeepers Association of the Republic of Moldova. With the theme “Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Beekeeping in the Context of Climate Change and International Challenges,” the event brought together over 100 beekeepers and experts from the Republic of Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of the Republic of Moldova.
A key role at the forum was played by specialists from the Technical University of Moldova, a recognized leader in beekeeping research and a strategic partner of the sector. UTM representatives, Prof. Nicolae EREMIA and Assoc. Prof. Tatiana MARDARI, provided valuable academic insights into innovations in bee care, honey production sustainability, and the impact of climate change on the field.
Forum participants emphasized that beekeeping is more than an industry – it is a true pillar of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture. In addition to providing valuable products (honey, pollen, propolis, wax, and royal jelly), the beekeeping sector plays an essential role in plant pollination, contributing to higher agricultural yields and maintaining ecological balance.
In the Republic of Moldova, the number of bee colonies has grown from 98,300 in 2008 to 265,000 in 2024, marking an increase of 2.6 times. However, honey exports, which peaked at over 5,000 tons in 2017, have declined to around 4,000 tons in 2024. This decrease is mainly attributed to climate change and other economic challenges.
The forum highlighted innovative solutions for the problems faced by beekeepers, including:
- Combating varroa and the impact of climate change – Dr. Adrian SICEANU (Romania) analyzed risks and adaptation solutions in his report “Bees in the Face of Challenges: Nutrition, Varroa, and Climate Change.”
- Modern bee care technologies – Presented by Ivan DOSCOCI, breeder and president of the Queen Breeders Association of Ukraine, who discussed methods adapted to new climatic conditions.
The forum also included specialized workshops. In the first workshop, Alina VARADI, an apitherapy specialist, highlighted the health benefits of bee products – honey, wax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, queen larvae, and drone larvae. She also demonstrated the use of raw acacia honey as food for the eyes, as well as bee sting therapy for treating medical conditions. The second workshop focused on new methods for evaluating the purity of bee breeds and determining morphometric indices, crucial for genetic selection, research, and education.
A priority direction identified at the forum was the expansion of export markets and the promotion of packaged honey to increase beekeepers’ incomes. The Ministry of Agriculture supports the modernization of the sector through the BeeProtect platform, which includes over 2,000 registered farmers, 1,500 of whom are beekeepers – a strong step toward a sustainable future for Moldovan beekeeping.
Present at the event, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, Iurie SCRIPNIC, emphasized that investments in modernization and technology are essential. He stated that close collaboration between beekeepers, researchers, and authorities can transform the Republic of Moldova into a major supplier of high-quality honey.
The National Beekeeping Forum 2025 demonstrated that Moldovan beekeeping has a promising future, and through joint efforts – researchers, beekeepers, and authorities – this sector can become a pillar of excellence for national agriculture. The Technical University of Moldova continues to be a strategic partner of this sector, contributing through research, innovation, and education to the development of modern, sustainable, high-performing, and internationally competitive beekeeping.
