In W40 in the honey landscape, beekeepers in Northwestern Bulgaria are facing challenges as there is limited demand for bulk honey in the 2023 season, despite a decrease in the wholesale price from USD 2.26 per kilogram (kg) in 2022 to USD 2.05/kg. The reasons for this market stagnation are unclear, with speculations about factors like the war in Ukraine. Currently, honey is only available at the retail level, priced between USD 5.39 and 6.47 per 900-gram jar. Farmers are attempting to sell larger quantities in tin containers at lower prices, while others offer packages with multiple jars at discounted rates to boost sales.
Bulgarian beekeepers are illegally importing foreign queen bees, which poses the risk of introducing new diseases into the country. This practice is both unlawful and costlier than using locally bred queen bees. The imported queen bees primarily come from Poland, Austria, Germany, and Turkey, negatively affecting local bee populations. Moreover, a study found 27 pesticides in bee corpses in Bulgaria, even in regions with minimal agricultural activity, raising concerns about the causes of bee mortality.
Due to climate change, Turkey's honey production has dropped from its annual average of nearly 110 thousand metric tons (mt) to 90 thousand mt. In 2023, chestnut honey production specifically declined due to issues related to the gall bee pest and adverse climate conditions. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's General Directorate of Livestock is actively working on a project to address the impact of climate change on beekeeping, focusing on developing bee races that can withstand climate change effects. The Central Union of Turkish Beekeepers is advocating for support in honey production areas, and Turkey has aspirations to become a global leader in the field of apitherapy.