This year is expected to be difficult for Greek beekeeping, since the sector is directly affected by climate change. At the same time, the phenomena Greekizations of honey from countries such as China and the Ukrainewhich are available for sale at a significantly lower price than the Greek ones, have made many beekeepers “raise their hands”, asking the state to address the issues.

“The Greek market has been “inundated” by “Hellenized” honeys, as a result of which Greek honeys have been devalued,” the President of the Federation of Beekeeping Associations of Greece (OMSE), Kostas Leontarakis, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.

Problems have also been caused by imports of Ukrainian honey according to him, which enters the European market duty-free.

Greek honeys, although of high quality, usually come second with him noting that “there are legislative loopholes. There are control mechanisms but they must be activated and “throw” fines where they should”.

However, the phenomenon of illegal honey standardization is not only a Greek phenomenon. Other European Union countries have similar problems.

In search of solutions, the European Commission proceeded to create one new platform for honey. In it, experts from all over the E.U. they will be able to submit their opinions on the authenticity and traceability of the product, so that the “scourge” of honey adulteration can be tackled.

Climate change

In recent years, climate change has become increasingly evident in many areas of the country. Those employed in the primary sector are the ones who have “first-hand” experienced its effects, as was seen from last summer’s devastating fires and from the floods that hit Thessaly.

“We cannot deal with climate change. A living organism such as the bee cannot, since it itself cannot adapt to the large and sudden changes in climate and temperatures” noted the President of OMSE.

The situation is similar for the beekeeper. The situation is made even more difficult for industry professionals in the island nation. “The phenomenon is most evident in all the Islands of the country where beekeeping exists but also in the basin of Attica. These are areas where they are mainly thyme farmswhich thyme no longer exists” he noted.

In addition, the beekeepers of the islands do not have the advantage of “grazing” their bees in other areas, since the access to new places is more difficult or impossible.

According to Mr. Leontarakis, the high temperatures, in addition to the above problems, cause “starvation” in the bees. This results in a loss of livestock in addition to a low honey harvest. “We will start certifying these disasters nationwide. We want the state to listen to us and help us with some extraordinary support,” he said.

Reduced income up to 60%

Last year’s devastating fires and floods resulted in the income of beekeepers suffering a reduction of up to 60%,” the president of OMSE told APE-MPE.

And he added “with the drought already prevailing, we estimate that income could drop by up to 80%.” Finally, according to Mr. Leontarakis, thyme honey is expected to disappear from the market this year, while the same risk exists for pine honey. “There will be no thyme honey. This period with the heat is critical, while there is a risk that pine honey will not appear” he said characteristically.