Beesfor Development Journal 76
APIMONDIA 2005
APIMONDIA CONGRESS, DUBLIN 2005 Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, became the capital city for bees during the last week of August, as the Apimondia Congress took place. All aspects of the apiculture sector were represented as beekeepers, researchers, government staff, the international honey trade, and experts on every aspect of bees, met in Dublin. The work of Apimondia is divided between seven Standing Commissions, and one of these is Beekeeping for Rural Development. This Commission organised one morning where papers were presented from around the world, and three days of practical workshops. The latter were a new feature for Apimondia and proved highly popular. Demonstrations by skilled practitioners telling their trade secrets, for example of good hive making, soap making and candle making - kept the full attention of the audiences. The Congress was attended by 3,500 people, with 101 countries represented. This was the largest international Congress to have been staged in Dublin, and was much enjoyed and appreciated by all who participated. The closing ceremony featured the voting procedure for the Congress in 2009, with France succeeding in their bid to host the event. Friday saw thousands of delegates head off on organised tours to experience the Irish countryside and visit Irish beekeepers in their natural environment.
ApiExpo featured 120 stands and displays from companies and organisations from 30 different countries
BeesforDevelopment
Resolutions passed by the Apimondia Congress include:
Honey Trade Workshop
Establishment of a new Working Group The Eastern and Southern African representatives at Apimondia 2005 Dublin have resolved to start a regional forum aimed at promoting honey trade in Africa, under the auspices of the Apimondia Standing Commission Beekeeping for Rural Development.
Bees forr Development organised a Honey Trade Workshop for two days prior to the Apimondia Congress (Jury's Ballsbridge Hotel Dublin 19-20 August 2005). The Workshop was organised as part of our DFID/BLCF Project on African Honey, and arranged in cooperation with two of Apimondia's Standing Commissions: Beekeeping For Rural Development, and Beekeeping Technology and Equipment. The main purpose of the Workshop was to enable more producer groups to become eligible for honey export to the EU. Speakers - from 18 different countries - included those from producer groups already on the EU's list of 'third countries', those hoping to join soon, and honey importers and buyers.
The Group have set up an interim Steering Committee that will facilitate the organisation of a meeting to be held in Uganda in May 2006. This meeting will formalise the operations and functions of the Working Group. Increasing honey trade opportunities for small-sscale African beekeepers It is recognised that the beekeeping sector holds potential for creating sustainable incomes for Africa's rural beekeepers, but this potential is hardly tapped because these producers do not have access to infrastructure and organisational systems to allow them to reach the niche/speciality markets their products would otherwise reach, especially in the EU. To open new market opportunities for these beekeepers, a resolution is hereby made for the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO) to take cognisance of the situation in Africa, and put in place a system of recognising and registering small-scale private sector firms that are linking the producers to buyers in the fair trade market. A detailed proposal on how these firms will address the principle guidelines of FLO will be submitted to FLO for action.
Honey tasting during the BfD Honey Trade Workshop 3
