Building resilient beekeeping systems: Actionable insights from Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

In many parts of the world, honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony loss occurs at alarming rates. This report proposes a framework for colony health based in actions taken not only at the colony, apiary, or ecosystem level, but also within the broader beekeeping system - the extended network of honey bees and beekeepers that are connected to, and impact, each other. It explores factors that contribute to the industrialization of beekeeping systems and describes alternatives to industrial beekeeping. It then turns towards beekeeping in Mexico, discussing the ways industrialization can take hold even inside of small-scale systems, highlighting beekeeper experiences in the southern state of Chiapas. Finally it outlines beekeeper-led actions that policymakers, researchers and extension workers, and the general public can implement to build resilient beekeeping systems.Key messages:A beekeeping system is comprised of a vast network of bees and beekeepers who are connected to – and impact – each other.Industrial beekeeping occurs when inputs-intensive practices come to dominate a beekeeping system.Industrialization erodes honey bee resilience and renders food systems vulnerable. It also contributes to pathogen spillover, jeopardizing wild bees and native ecosystems.Alternatives to industrial beekeeping have always existed and continue to prosper in many parts of the world. In Chiapas, Mexico, many beekeepers opt out of inputs-intensive practices despite pressures to industrialize.Supporting low-inputs alternatives in Mexico is particularly critical now as colony loss escalates, in some regions reaching rates comparable to those found in the U.S.Because honey bee colonies are highly interconnected, and the management that one colony receives can impact outcomes for another, beekeepers must work to build both resilient beekeeping practices and resilient beekeeping systems. In resilient beekeeping systems, honey bee colonies survive with or without beekeeper intervention.Building resilient beekeeping systems means (1) identifying beekeeping practices that contribute to resilience, (2) determining barriers to implementation, (3) expanding beekeeper access to resilience-building practices, and (4) articulating multi-sector strategies to support systems change