President's Trip to Madrid Yields Success
In a significant move towards promoting cooperation among European beekeepers, a meeting was held on January 21, 2025, at the Slovenian Embassy in Madrid. The gathering, organised by the Embassy, brought together key figures from the beekeeping community, including Juan José Cid García, CEO of LG Espana, Elvira García Camino, Mieleko, José Jiménez Colado, president of Apiscam, and several representatives from Spanish beekeeping organisations, the Beekeeping Association of Slovenia, the European Beekeeping Association, and other organisations like APISCA, Juan Antonio Plaza Nicolás, and Mour website.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and collaborate on initiatives aimed at benefiting bees, beekeepers, and consumers. José Jiménez Colado, who is also the president of the beekeepers association in Madrid, expressed his willingness to collaborate on any initiative. Paola Vecino, president of El Rincón de la Abeja, and Jorge Carabaña Fernández, and Laura Fernández Getino, both of Mieleko, were also present, demonstrating a strong commitment from the attendees.
During the meeting, participants discussed various potential areas of cooperation, including sustainable beekeeping practices, pollinator conservation, and research and education. While the specific cooperative initiatives agreed upon are not yet known, these areas are common focuses for beekeeping initiatives, aiming to promote environmentally friendly beekeeping methods, protect bee populations and their habitats, and advance beekeeping knowledge and best practices through collaborative programs.
Following the meeting, a thank you note was sent to José Jiménez Colado for his leadership and contribution to the discussion. Mr. Boštjan Noč, who represented the Beekeeping Association of Slovenia, expressed his appreciation for the collaboration and agreed to work together in the future, acknowledging that they all face similar challenges and can benefit from united efforts.
The ongoing activities of the website of Apiscam, which is aimed at promoting cooperation among European beekeepers, continue to be a driving force behind these collaborative efforts. The website's focus on collaboration and unity among European beekeepers is a testament to the importance of working together to secure a better future for bees, beekeepers, and consumers.
Finance and politics intersected during the meeting as discussions about potential funding for collaborative beekeeping initiatives were on the agenda. The collaborative efforts, aimed at promoting environmentally friendly practices, protecting bee populations, and advancing knowledge, also drew attention from general news outlets due to the involvement of key figures from business and policy-and-legislation sectors.
