Continuing support for beekeepers in Thessaly
A new strategic initiative to restart beekeeping in Thessaly is launched through the program “Queen Rearing in Thessaly: Distribution of Queen Cells to Support Local Beekeeping”, announced by the organization New Agriculture New Generation, aiming to support beekeepers affected by storm Daniel in 2023.
The program builds on previous successful initiatives supporting the local beekeeping community and responds to multiple requests for further assistance and restoration of production activity.
The impact of storm Daniel
Storm “Daniel” caused extensive damage in Thessaly, leading to the loss of more than 40% of bee colonies and significantly affecting a sector that plays a crucial role in agricultural production and biodiversity in the region.
From the very beginning, the organization Νέα Γεωργία Νέα Γενιά has stood by affected beekeepers, providing more than 27,000 queen cells, which contributed to the creation of over 21,600 new bee colonies.
What the program includes
The program will be implemented from April to September 2026 and will support up to 150 beekeepers in Thessaly through the free distribution of 10,000 queen cells derived from endemic genetic material of the region.
The production of queen cells will be carried out by 8 specialized queen breeders, who have already been trained through previous programs of the organization and utilize selected genetic material, either their own or that of participating beekeepers.
This approach enhances the development of high-quality and resilient bee colonies and contributes to the long-term sustainability of the sector.
Partnerships and implementation
The program is designed and implemented by the organization New Agriculture New Generation, in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens and under the scientific guidance of the Laboratory of Sericulture and Apiculture, supervised by Assistant Professor Georgios Gkoras.
It is co-funded by the Region of Thessaly, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation and APIVITA within the framework of the Billion Bees Program.
Who can participate
Priority will be given to beekeepers affected by storm Daniel, following the evaluation of applications.
Areas of implementation
The program is implemented in the following Regional Units:
- Larissa
- Karditsa
- Magnesia
- Trikala
Applications
The first application cycle will remain open until April 17, 2026.
Learn more about the program and submit your application via the following link: https://newagri.org/en/lines-of-action/
Program impact
The initiative aims to support affected beekeepers, preserve and utilize local bee genetic material, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of the sector.
At the same time, it contributes to strengthening the local beekeeping community and preserving biodiversity, as bees are among the most important pollinators of crops.
