The beekeeping sector is facing a severe crisis due to a 50% drop in honey production compared…

The beekeeping sector is facing a severe crisis due to a 50% drop in honey production compared to historical averages and a mortality rate among bees reaching up to 40% in the hardest-hit areas. Producers attribute this decline to several challenging years marked by heatwaves, wildfires, and increased predation from species like the European bee-eater and the Asian hornet, as well as diseases such as varroa. They also express concern over rising production costs and claim that the assistance provided does not match that available to other farmers. Furthermore, there is a growing exodus of professionals from a sector that once attracted many newcomers.