Queen Rearing: Save a Greek Bee

Τhrough the "Queen Rearing: Rescue and Genetic Improvement of Bees”, program in Greece, we seek to change radically the beekeeping sector and strengthen the beekeeping community in Greece by utilizing, rescuing, and improving the genetic material of bees through a holistic and innovative approach, called “grafting”.

During the 1st phase of the program, young local beekeepers receive training (“Train the Trainers" learning method) on sustainable beekeeping practices and on the innovative approach of “grafting”. During the 2nd phase, the trained beekeepers, called “the grafters”, are responsible for transferring the knowledge to active beekeepers ("Peer-to-Peer” learning method) and providing the service of grafting. The artificial queen cells that are created will then be managed by the beekeepers for their own benefit, without any financial obligation.

Building on the success of the program already implemented in Thessaly and Evia, we are thirlled to announce the expansion of the "Queen Rearing: Rescue and Genetic Improvement of Bees" program to Central Greece, specifically to the remaining four regional units: Boeotia, Evrytania, Fokida, and Fthiotida. This expansion presents a unique opportunity to multiply the benefits we've already seen, with the geographical proximity of these regions to Thessaly and Evia offering great potential to further strengthen the beekeeping sector while supporting biodiversity and ecosystem preservation at both local and national levels.

During the period of November - December 2024, we began the preparations for the program's launch. In December 2024 and January 2025, we officially announced the program and opened applications for beekeepers in these areas to express their interest in participating. Following the closure of applications, we conducted interviews and selected 20 beekeepers who will take part in the 1st phase of the training (theoretical and practical), totaling 100 hours of content covering queen rearing and royal jelly production, as well as general beekeeping best practices.

Training began in February 2025 in the region of Lamia and will continue until March 2025. To date, we have covered several important topics, including: Basic principles of queen rearing, Methods of queen rearing and Variations, Selection and improvement techniques etc.

We are excited by the progress made and are eager to see the positive impact this training will have on the beekeeping community in Central Greece.

Thank you for being an integral part of this journey, and we encourage you to continue supporting the Queen Rearing program as we work together to foster a resilient and thriving beekeeping community in Greece. Your contribution will not only enhance the livelihoods of local beekeepers but also play a key role in protecting the environment, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of local communities.

Join us in making a difference – your support is vital!