Crises in beekeeping: This is how our bees fight in Voitsberg!

Crises in beekeeping: This is how our bees fight in Voitsberg!

Voitsberg, Österreich - What's going on in the world of bees? Under the motto "Everything used to be better" MeinDzirk The current problems with beekeeping in Austria. With around 35,000 beekeepers and beekeepers, our country has one of the highest beekeeping density in Europe, and 160 beekeepers are active in the Voitsberg district, who look after around 2,000 bee colonies. But the challenges for these hard -working pollinators are increasingly greater.

The centuries -old tradition of beekeeping, which was often started as a family business or out of personal interest, faces major changes. One of the greatest threats is climate change. It has an impact on the breeding season of honey bees, which is extended by 4-6 weeks a year. The queen begins with the laying of eggs in February, which used to be the case in March. These shifts in nature lead to a lack of food for the bees, and many beekeepers have to feed until June to maintain their peoples.

climate change and its consequences

climate change not only influenced the breeding sides, but also the flower development and thus the food production of the bees. According to Bees4Life , pollen leads to a reduced food supply for the bees as a result of dryness in autumn and through excessive rainfall. These changes are alarming because they play a crucial role in the survival of the bees.

The Varroa mite remains one of the most dangerous parasites in the beehive, which attacks the bees's immune system and can endanger entire peoples. New threats such as the Asian hornets do not make the life of the bees easier; She eats bees and can decimate entire peoples. The alarm bells have already ringed the first sightings of this kind in Austria.

European beekeeping under pressure

The situation on the European honey market is also tense. The German beekeeper bundle reports of a crisis in the beekeeping sector, which is caused by a combination of climate change, invasive species and an increase in cheap imports. Production costs are increasing while the demand for honey decreases. The effects are particularly noticeable for professional beekeepers who sell their products in barrels.

In many places in the EU there are not enough bee colonies to pollinate agricultural cultures. This has far -reaching consequences for honey production and nutritional security. In order to counteract these challenges, consequences such as strengthening controls in honey imports and the introduction of an EU-wide honey database are necessary.

The generation change in beekeeping