Summary
The organization New Agriculture New Generation announces the training and advisory program “Queen Rearing in Central Greece – Utilization, Conservation, and Improvement of Bee Genetic Material | Phase A: Queen Breeders’ Training,” which will be implemented in the Regional Units of Boeotia, Evrytania, Phthiotis, and Phocis.
The program is co-financed by New Agriculture New Generation through the founding donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, and APIVITA and is carried out under the auspices of the Region of Central Greece.
Queen rearing refers to the process of producing queen bees. Through large-scale queen rearing with genetic selection criteria, which will take place in Phase B of the program by queen breeders trained during Phase A, the program contributes to addressing the decline in bee populations and improving the genetic traits of bee colonies.
The program is implemented in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens and is being carried out for the third consecutive year, having started in Thessaly in 2022 and expanding to Euboea the following year. Within this framework, it has already received significant distinctions in Greece, such as the Bravo Sustainability Award 2022 in the “Ecosystem and Biodiversity Protection” category and the GOLD Environmental Award in the “Sustainable Agriculture” category. Additionally, queen breeders trained in the program played a crucial role in the initiative “Restarting Beekeeping in Thessaly: Queen Rearing – Restoration and Conservation of Indigenous Genetic Material,” which supported beekeepers affected by Storm Daniel by providing 27,000 royal cells from selected genetic material.
Program Structure
The program “Queen Rearing in Central Greece: Utilization, Conservation, and Improvement of Bee Genetic Material” consists of two phases:
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Selection and specialized training of up to 20 young individuals with knowledge and experience in beekeeping practices. They will receive training in queen rearing, royal jelly production, and advanced beekeeping techniques. After completing the required training, 8 of the most capable trainees with the willingness and ability to support the next stage of the program will be selected.
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Deployment of the 8 trained specialists across the Region of Central Greece (approximately 2 per Regional Unit – Boeotia, Evrytania, Phthiotis, and Phocis). Their role will involve coordinating beekeepers in the area who wish to participate in the program and organizing demonstrations and the practical implementation of queen cell grafting for the production of high-quality queens from selected genetic material.
Program Goals
Phase A
The primary goal is to train a group of young beekeepers in queen rearing, equipping them with the skills to perform and demonstrate queen cell grafting to any beekeeper in the region who wishes to benefit. This initiative creates new income opportunities for young beekeepers and enhances their professional sustainability in the sector.
Phase B
The second phase involves a significant number of queen cell grafting procedures carried out by a team of specialized beekeepers who will demonstrate the process, explain it in detail, and address any questions from participating beekeepers. The objective is to familiarize a large number of beekeepers with high-quality queen production techniques.
The long-term goal of the program is the large-scale production of selected genetic material across the Regional Units of Boeotia, Evrytania, Phthiotis, and Phocis, ultimately aiming to increase honey production and develop more resilient bee colonies by optimizing the indigenous genetic material. Strengthening beekeeping in Central Greece will enhance the region’s biodiversity and boost local agricultural production, given that bees are among the most crucial pollinators in the ecosystem.
Educational Objectives
- Understanding the role of queen rearing in theory and practice
- Importance of selection and genetic improvement
- Bee disease management
- Royal jelly production and other bee products
- Understanding relevant legislation
- Development of communication skills
Target Audience
Phase A of the program is aimed at young beekeepers (excluding those in Euboea) with experience in beekeeping practices who are interested in specializing in queen rearing.
It is also crucial that participating beekeepers have the ability and commitment to pass on their knowledge during Phase B of the program, inspiring others about the benefits of bee selection and genetic improvement.
Number of Beneficiaries
Phase A: 20 beekeepers
Training Structure
- Theoretical training: 75 hours in total
- Practical training: 25 hours in total
- Total training duration: 100 hours
Training Location (2025 Cycle)
Region of Central Greece (excluding Euboea) – Training sessions will be held near Lamia.
Timeline
- Phase A Training: January – February 2025 (100 hours of training)
- Classes will take place in the morning hours
- Attendance is mandatory
- Phase B (grafting process): Approx. March – September 2025
Curriculum (Indicative Topics)
- Fundamentals of queen rearing
- Traditional queen rearing method
- Variations of the traditional method
- Mating nucs
- Shipping and introduction of queens
- Selection and genetic improvement
- Royal jelly production methods
- Professional royal jelly production
- Reproductive behavior and mating
- Bee diseases and pests
- Bee products
- Beekeeping legislation
- First aid
- Communication skills development
Certification
A Certificate of Attendance will be provided.
Participation Fee
The program is free of charge.
Instructors
The program is implemented in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens, which designed the educational component under the scientific guidance of the Sericulture and Apiculture Laboratory, led by Assistant Professor Georgios Gkoras. Watch an informational video from a previous training cycle.
Application Process
Active beekeepers from the Regional Units of Boeotia, Evrytania, Phthiotis, and Phocis can apply. Priority will be given to applicants under 45 years old.
Selection will be conducted through personal interviews.
More Information
Kalliopi Karaboiki, Capacity Building Manager
New Agriculture New Generation
Tel: +30 210 6917986, +30 6972096122
Email: [email protected]
