In a fortnight’s time, on 20 May, Slovenia and the rest of the world will celebrate World Bee Day for the third time. The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Bee Day on 20 December 2017 as the result of cooperation between the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association as the initiator, the Republic of Slovenia and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and as the result of the widespread European and wider international support of both countries and organisation, including Apimondia (the International Federation of Beekeepers' Associations). The main purpose of World Bee Day is to raise awareness among the global public about the importance of bees and other pollinators for humanity, in light of food security, the global elimination of hunger, and care for the environment and biodiversity.

Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, this year's third international celebration will take place virtually. With the title "Bee Engaged", FAO as the organiser of the event wishes to draw attention to the importance of engagement and actions of countries, organisations, research and educational institutions, civil society, the private sector, farmers, beekeepers and the public for the conservation of bees and other pollinators. The participants of the event will be addressed by, among others, FAO's Director-General, Qu Dongyu and the Slovenian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Dr Aleksandra Pivec. In Slovenia, the celebration of World Bee Day will take place in a manner suitable to the state of epidemic, at the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association and in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food.

On this occasion it is important to highlight that the proclamation of World Bee Day is an achievement of Slovenia as a whole, of several governmental and non-governmental institutions and diplomacy, that it is closely related to the fact that bees are a topic on which countries of the world have a uniform opinion and that addresses and proposes solutions for the biggest global problems, such as ensuring food security for the world’s population, which is at further risk due to the COVID-19 epidemic. With this year's World Bee Day, we once again wish to draw attention of the general public to the fact that bees are extremely important for our survival on this planet and that they are critically endangered in many countries and regions because of a variety of reasons (but especially because of climate change). Bees need clean air, clean water and a clean environment in a broader sense. If we preserve the environment to such an extent that the bees will find it easier to survive, then people will also live in a more beautiful and healthier environment. The most important, however, is that we all once again become aware that the role of every individual is crucial for the conservation of bees and other pollinators.

More information available at:

The World Bee Day website
FAO World Bee Day
World Bee Day Facebook page