World Bee Day 2026

Cairo, 20/05/2026

Bees have long been part of life across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. From the mountains of Morocco to the plains of Iraq, beekeeping is deeply connected to biodiversity, food production and rural livelihoods. Yet today, this centuries-old practice is under pressure from climate change, pests and diseases, habitat degradation, unsustainable pesticide use and weak market systems.

On World Bee Day 2026, the theme “Bee together for people and the planet – A partnership that sustains us all” highlights a reality already unfolding across the region: protecting pollinators is inseparable from supporting people, livelihoods and resilient agrifood systems.

Across NENA, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) works with governments, research institutions, professional organizations and local communities to strengthen sustainable and inclusive apiculture systems that support both biodiversity and rural economies.

A sector under pressure

Bees play a critical role in pollinating crops and wild plants, making them essential for food security and healthy ecosystems. Yet across the region, bee populations are increasingly under threat.

In the Maghreb, beekeepers face challenges linked to climate change, excessive pesticide use, weak extension services and the spread of diseases contributing to abnormal colony losses and colony collapse syndrome. Similar pressures are affecting Iraq, where Varroa mites and emerging diseases such as American Foulbrood have weakened colonies and reduced honey production.

For rural families, the impact goes far beyond lower honey yields. Reduced pollination affects agricultural productivity, while limited technical knowledge and weak market access make it harder for beekeepers to earn stable incomes. Women and youth, who already face barriers in rural labour markets, are often the most affected.

Building resilience through practical action

FAO has been supporting initiatives focused on practical training, stronger value chains and more sustainable livelihood opportunities linked to apiculture.

In Iraq, the project “Strengthening the capacity of beekeepers women and youth, on business management and post-harvest marketing” trained 130 beekeepers across 10 governorates in modern beekeeping techniques, pest and disease management and business development.

The project took a real hands-on approach with training taking place directly in functioning apiaries hosted by universities, research institutions and experienced beekeepers. Participants worked with live hives, observed real conditions and immediately applied improved practices in the field.

The project also introduced simple digital tools to help monitor hive performance and track production trends. Participants learned skills beyond honey production, including queen bee rearing, crossbreeding techniques and harvesting products such as royal jelly and pollen. For many households, these improvements are already helping diversify incomes and strengthen livelihoods.

Across North Africa, FAO and the Arab Maghreb Union launched the regional project “Préservation et développement de l'apiculture dans les pays du Maghreb” covering Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia.

The initiative supports stronger professional organizations, improved technical capacities, better bee health services and the promotion of hive products. It also focuses heavily on creating employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people.

Beyond honey: creating new rural opportunities

One of the most promising aspects of apiculture is that it creates opportunities far beyond honey production itself.

A regional FAO study identified 20 potential employment niches in the apiculture value chain, with several professions showing strong potential for job creation and rural development. These include beekeeping trainers, bee health officers, queen bee producers, beeswax processors, hive carpenters, protective clothing designers and honey conditioning specialists.

These activities help diversify incomes while strengthening the wider apiculture sector. Beeswax processing, for example, supports the production of candles, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products and embossed wax sheets used in modern beekeeping. Honey packaging and conditioning create opportunities in marketing, logistics, and quality control, while hive manufacturing supports local craftsmanship and the use of sustainable materials.

Importantly, many of these professions are accessible to women and youth, helping create more inclusive rural economies.

Women and youth driving change

Across FAO-supported initiatives, women and young people are playing a central role in shaping the future of beekeeping.

In Iraq, women took part in practical training on hive management, disease control and business development, strengthening their role in household income generation and decision-making. Young beekeepers gained access to technical and digital skills that helped transform beekeeping into a more modern and commercially viable livelihood.

Similarly, the Maghreb initiative places gender and youth inclusion at the centre of its approach, recognizing that sustainable rural transformation depends on expanding opportunities for traditionally underserved groups.

Scaling knowledge through partnerships

A key lesson emerging from FAO’s work across the region is that sustainable change depends on strong partnerships and continuous learning.

In Iraq, educational apiaries established across different agroecological zones are now serving as long-term training hubs where beekeepers continue exchanging knowledge and practical experience. Partnerships between universities, local associations, researchers and experienced beekeepers are helping knowledge spread through mentorship and peer-to-peer learning.

In North Africa, regional cooperation is also helping countries share expertise on bee health, biodiversity conservation, training systems and regulatory frameworks. Recommendations from the Maghreb initiative include stronger coordination between stakeholders, regional knowledge-sharing platforms, improved beekeeper identification systems and specialized research and training centres. These approaches are helping build scalable systems that rely on local expertise and existing infrastructure.

Investing in pollinators, investing in resilience

Across NENA, beekeeping is becoming another pathway toward stronger livelihoods, healthier ecosystems and more resilient agrifood systems. These projects also reflect wider global priorities highlighted by World Bee Day 2026, as the theme aligns closely with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026. As communities continue rebuilding and modernizing the sector, bees remain at the centre of a wider transformation where traditional knowledge and innovation come together to support both people and the planet.