RELEASE: New BEE project will boost trade, demand for Pacific honey
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"We are thrilled by this support. It marks a substantial step forward for our region’s beekeeping industry and will bolster both environmental sustainability and economic opportunities, benefiting beekeepers, consumers, and the Pacific economy at large."
--Ambassador Mere Falemaka, PIF Permanent Representative to the UN and WTO.
Suva, Fiji – 18 November 2024--A new project addressing critical challenges faced by Pacific beekeepers will help boost export demand for high quality Pacific honey to local and global markets. Dubbed the Pacific Beekeeping-Enabling Environment (BEE) project, the USD 1.27m project is a partnership between the Pacific Islands Forum and the WTO Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF).
The three-year initiative will support the apiculture industry across the Pacific region and is jointly funded by the STDF and the Australian government.
“We are thrilled by this support. It marks a substantial step forward for our region’s beekeeping industry and will bolster both environmental sustainability and economic opportunities, benefiting beekeepers, consumers, and the Pacific economy at large,” said Ambassador Mere Falemaka, PIF's Permanent Representative to the UN and WTO.
Implementation will start in the first quarter of 2025.
The Pacific apiculture industry is nascent but growing steadily. Niue exported 12 tonnes of honey to New Zealand in 2023, thanks to its ideal, pest-free environment. Fiji is set to produce over 300 tonnes annually to meet strong local demand, while Vanuatu and Samoa are steadily expanding their honey production capacity at 4 and 40 tonnes, respectively. Honey production across these islands offers valuable income potential and supports agricultural resilience and the overall environment, highlighting its significance for Pacific economy.
The project is seen as transformative for the apiculture sector, enhancing resilience, sustainability, and trade capabilities through improved pest and disease management, beekeeper training, and strengthened regional collaboration. AsureQuality, a leading provider of apiculture support and biosecurity expertise, has been selected as the project’s key implementing partner.
The project aligns with the Pacific Aid-for-Trade Strategy and the Blue Pacific 2050 Strategy—specifically the Resources and Economic Development and Oceans and Environment thematic areas. In the long term, it will strengthen regional trade capacity, promote sustainable industry growth, and protect biodiversity across Pacific Island communities. --ENDS
Contact: media@forumsec.org