European beekeeping is under pressure from multiple fronts. In a recent interview at the APICAVE symposium in Portugal, veteran beekeeper, Antonio Gómez Pajuelo, points to unstoppable varroa mites, pollen weakened by climate change, and toxic residues from treatments. Asian hornets make things even worse. Spain has three million hives, more than the US, but poor coordination and drought are causing winter losses.

The honey market adds another layer of difficulty. Cheap imports, price competition, and widespread adulteration are destabilising the sector. Robert Chlebo, Chair of Apimondia’s Regional Commission for Europe, warns that roughly half of tested imported honey samples show signs of sugar syrup adulteration. Etienne Bruneau, former Chair of COPA-COGECA, points to additional pressures including the Mercosur trade deal and new adulterants that current detection methods cannot yet identify.

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