In W35 in the honey landscape, United States (US) honey consumption has surged by approximately 60% from 1990 to 2023, resulting in substantial imports valued at hundreds of millions of dollars and nearly a six-fold price increase. The US is the largest global importer of honey, receiving over USD 430 million worth in 2019. This rising popularity of honey is attributed to consumers viewing it as a "superfood," similar to garlic and ginger. Despite a 7% annual increase in honey imports, domestic honey production in the US remains stagnant due to climate-related issues, diseases, and poor preparation. Moreover, in 2022, honey production was only half of the peak achieved in 1993, with imported honey making up about 75% of supply.
The Muğla Metropolitan Municipality in Turkey is supporting beekeepers for the fifth consecutive year through the "Clean Honeycomb Project," which addresses the issue of the greater wax moth, a common problem for beekeepers. This project involves freezing honeycombs at -30°C in locations such as Köyceğiz, Milas, and Menteşe Districts to eliminate the greater wax moth larvae, pupae, and eggs. The frozen combs are then provided to beekeepers in Marmaris and Köyceğiz Districts, ensuring comb longevity and residue-free honey production..
Lastly, South Korea's Livestock Sanitation and Quarantine Support Headquarters and the Korea Beekeeping Agricultural Cooperative signed a business agreement (MOU) to preserve the honey bee ecosystem and revitalize bee breeding. This collaboration will focus on promoting urban beekeeping, providing disease and breeding management support, and creating an environment for planting wheat trees and quarantine projects, among others. The organizations have already initiated the urban beekeeping 'Bee's Day' project, which held a launch ceremony on July 17 and conducted its first harvest on July 22.
