Turkey the second-largest honey producer worldwide and potential bee savior
Apiculture has been ongoing in Anatolia — the present-day Turkey — since the time of the Hittites about 1300 BC. Now, Turkey ranks second in the world after China in honey production with an output of about 100,000 tons each year, according to the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. That is an increase of 30% from a decade ago. Turkey is one of few self-sufficient countries in beekeeping, it produces a smorgasbord of varieties, including acacia, chestnut, citrus, lavender, pine, thyme, wildflower honey.
Turkish beekeepers in recent years have also started producing royal jelly, pollen, propolis and bee venom, popular for nutritional and medicinal purposes.
Turkey’s honey exports are not where they should be
Turkey’s share of honey exports is merely a fraction of the nation’s total output between 6,000 and 7,000 tons each year. Of the 48 countries to which Turkey exports honey Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Austria rank in the top five after Germany and the U.S. In the first 10 months of this year, Turkey exported 1,611 tons of honey worth $5.7 million to Germany and 713.5 tons worth $3.5 million to the U.S.
The low percentage of exports could be, in part, due to the high demand for honey in Turkey, where many breakfast dishes and desserts contain copious amounts of the natural sweetener, but the Turkish agriculture minister pointed to other causes.
Turkish Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli says “We should have a better share in the world as the second-largest producer in the world, we are still not where we want to be”.
The low percentage of exports could be, in part, due to the high demand for honey in Turkey, where many breakfast dishes and desserts contain copious amounts of the natural sweetener, but the Turkish agriculture minister pointed to other causes.
Turkish Agriculture Minister Bekir Pakdemirli says “We should have a better share in the world as the second-largest producer in the world, we are still not where we want to be”.
Genetic diversity
Like other countries around the world, Turkey has experienced colony collapse, but the phenomenon has had less of an impact on its honey production because of the volume and diversity of its bee population. The disorder impairs bees’ ability to navigate and return to their hives. The exact cause is unknown, but it has been associated with the use of some insecticides.
Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Ministry responded to the honeybee losses by banning the use of three nicotine-based insecticides (neonicotinoids) —clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid — the latter of which is most commonly used around the world. This was followed by a ban on the same chemicals in the European Union.
The country’s genetic diversity could help solve many of the problems that cause colony collapse. The genetic variation may provide natural protection against predators and pathogens thought to be a major factor in colony collapse.
Preserving endemic honeybee subspecies and ecotypes are essential for the future beekeeping industry, not only for Turkey but also for the world. ِAs the population of bees has been declining dramatically in the last few years for a variety of reasons, including global warming.
Example of honey exporters
Honey Bee Clever is one of the large Turkish honey exporters to the international market with its innovative honey products and high-quality organic honey, from the hives to your kitchen shelves. Their newest Snap and squeeze honey packs are expected to be one of the major honey exports of the last quarters of 2020.
Honey Bee Clever provides a variety of products from honey clever spoon to honey wax to honey energy mixes and sport blends. They have some products with natural flavor for children to support their immune system.
You could check the products here!