Beekeepers face a dual crisis: environmental threats and government neglect, endangering food supply across Europe.
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Beekeepers across Europe, including Greece, are facing a severe crisis threatening both their livelihoods and food security, as pollinators like bees are essential for about 75% of food crops. This decline is driven by climate change, excessive pesticide use, and economic pressures. In Greece, factors such as increased production costs, issues with product quality, reduced bee populations, and extreme weather events have severely impacted beekeepers. Globally, scientific warnings highlight that many bee species are endangered due to pesticides, yet the situation on the ground is dire; for instance, in 2023, over 100,000 hives were lost in Greece following severe weather. Across Europe, similar crises are evident: Spanish beekeeping businesses face high bankruptcy rates, Hungarian production suffers from extreme weather affecting bloom, and Italian honey production has dropped significantly. While the EU introduced support measures like “Measure 23” for climate change victims, Greek beekeepers report bureaucratic hurdles and issues with the associated payment schemes, which have stalled payments to eligible producers.
