Beekeeping is experiencing a perfect storm In much of Spain: weak campaigns due to the climate, rising costs, and foreign competition putting pressure on prices. In areas like Andalusia, which, along with Extremadura, accounts for a significant portion of the national census, The hives go out into the field less often and honey is scarce, with blooms ruined by extreme episodes.
The economic outlook is compounded by a market dominated by imported blends that erode value of local honey, while many professionals confess to working without margins. Public aid provides relief from time to time, but do not prevent losses from occurring on too many farms.
Andalusia, epicenter of the beekeeping crisis
Producers consulted in the community assure that they have been several consecutive campaigns with results well below normalThe spring rain did not translate into flowering or pollen, and the subsequent heat wave left the countryside dry. In that context, Spring stayed around 25–30% in a normal year and, even with an exceptional summer, the campaign as a whole would hardly exceed 40-50%.
The combination of extreme heat and drought reduces available nectar and weakens colonies, who go out to graze less. Added to this pressure is the Vespa velutina, an invasive exotic species that preys on bees and compromises the survival of entire apiaries, a problem that the sector has been highlighting for years.
Many professionals cannot adjust their census due to the commitments of the CAP, specifically the agro-environmental one. "Beekeeping for Biodiversity", which requires keeping hives for five years. Reducing the number involves returning amounts received, so that hives are kept even if they are not profitable, waiting for the cycle to change.
To sustain themselves, some combine direct sales and complementary work outside the campaign, while they try to cover staff, fuel, and material costs. The situation has even led beekeepers to search for seasons abroad to balance the books.
In parallel, large-scale distribution has displaced local producers with jars labeled as blends of various originsOLAF (European Commission Anti-Fraud) already warned in 2023 that more than half of imported honey analyzed did not meet standards, which fuels distrust and further depresses prices at source.
The Andalusian Government defends that it manages aid such as agro-environmental aid and Beekeeping Sector Intervention: in the last exercise he announced 5,8 million for the first and more than 3,1 million for actions such as beehive repopulation or health treatments. In addition, it maintains aid for food extreme weather conditions and activates measures against the velutina (removal of nests through TRAGSA, training of Environmental Agents and procedures for handling cheating), with distribution of responsibilities between ministries.
Spain faces challenges from fires, velutina and market
In Castile and León, the Fires have destroyed entire apiariesBeekeepers in Zamora and León estimate thousands of hives burned, with individual cases of hundreds of losses. Reconstruction can take between three and eight years, and with average yields of about 10 kg per hive sold at around 3 € / kg, economic recovery is becoming more complicated.
On a national scale, honey production rebounded to about 33.000 tons last year after two very low years, but the rebound is not transferred equally to all areas nor does it compensate for the rise in fixed and healthcare costsIt is not surprising that in the countryside the number of multiactivity to make ends meet.
Organizations like COAG Castile and León are preparing protests against what they consider an abandonment of the sector. They demand specific support and real control of labeling to protect professional honey from unfair practices.
The regulatory debate adds uncertainty: the proposal for the new CAP 2028–2034 proposes reorganizing instruments and, according to the sector, would leave out essential aid for professional beekeeping. A report is made 22% cut over the current framework and a reduction greater than 37% In current terms, something that would compromise investments and the continuity of operations.
The trade front also weighs heavily. The revision of the EU-Ukraine agreement raises the tariff-free import quota of honey from 6.000 to 35.000 tonsIn 2024, the EU imported from that country 53.958 tons (31% of the total) to 1,75 € / kg on average, below the production costs in Spain (over €3/kg), fueling unfair competition and the entry of honey potentially adulterated, according to the sector's complaint.
In addition to the above, there are biological and administrative impacts: bee-eater causes damage to sensitive areas, and the obligation to hire a farm veterinarian for animal health visits raises costs that many farms find difficult to assume.
In Aragon, the expansion of the Vespa velutina has set off alarm bells in municipalities such as Alcañiz. Surveillance has been reinforced even with drones and citizen collaboration is requested to detect nests, which can reach up to 80 cm in diameter and have a side opening. Authorities remind that should not be manipulated; the relevant services must be notified for safe removal.
Meanwhile, Galicia is promoting the value of its honey with fairs and quality seals. Designations such as PGI They guarantee strict parameters and traceability that the consumer can verify. Industry experts point out that the flora of origin defines shades (eucalyptus, chestnut, multifloral, etc.) and warns that some imports may include practices permitted outside the EU, hence the importance of choosing certified products.
The immediate future of the sector is coordinated measures addressing climate, health and market: support for professionalization, effective fight against velutina, clear labeling and policies that do not penalize those who support pollination and rural life.
