Lorestan province in Iran produces over 4,000 tons of honey annually, with 450,000 hives in over 3,700 apiaries. The industry needs support and branding for global, regional, and domestic markets. Iran ranks third in worldwide honey production, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The country's honey production per capita is 1.415 kilograms, and it has 155,000 people employed in apiaries. The Animal Science Research Institute suggests increasing honey production by three to four kilograms per colony, and reports that the country also produces significant amounts of royal jelly, pollen, beeswax, propolis, and bee venom annually.