World Bee Day

Bees and other pollinators are essential to food production, food security, and the economy, while also supporting human and ecosystem health. Their vital contributions span all three dimensions of sustainable development—economic, social, and environmental—enhancing both quality of life and long-term ecosystem health. Approximately 75 percent of the world’s top crop types producing fruits and seeds for human use depend at least partially on pollinators. Without pollinators, 5 to 8 percent of current global crop production would be lost, representing an annual market value of USD 235–577 billion. Despite the acknowledgement of their importance, many pollinator species worldwide are declining and at risk of extinction due to various pressures. Social bees and beekeeping support the livelihoods of small and large-scale beekeepers, rural communities and Indigenous Peoples, contributing to honey production, food production, cultural heritage, and inspiration, ultimately fostering sustainab...

In his message, Mr. Yurdi Yasmi, Director of the FAO Plant Production and Protection Division , invites us to recognize the importance of bees and all other pollinators this World Bee Day ( 20 May 2025). Pollinators play vital roles in our foods, economies and ecosystems , he explains.  

This year’s World Bee Day celebration on May 20th will focus on the vital roles of bees and other pollinators in ensuring global food security and nutrition Our world would be a very different place without bees and other pollinators! These amazing creatures are vital to our existence, and we owe them so much. Without pollinators, our diets would be very different, and so would our agriculture and biodiversity. Since 2018, World Bee Day has been an occasion to celebrate these tiny miracle workers globally. In 2025, under the theme " Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all ", the World Bee Day celebration will shine light on the vital roles of bees and other pollinators in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and food security and nutrition. Why pollinators matter? It is thanks to the over 20 000 bee species and various other wild pollinators that we can produce most of the crops we eat. These range from butterflies through birds and bats to other unsung heroes...

Online and in-person event in Jimma, Ethiopia | 09:00 – 12.00 (Ethiopia time, UTC+3) | Opening of the Second International Forum for action on sustainable beekeeping and pollination Hybrid Event on  20/05/2025. Pollination is essential for agrifood systems, supporting the production of more than 75 percent of the world's crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. In addition to increasing crop yields, pollinators improve food quality and diversity. More than 200 000 animal species are pollinators, the vast majority of which are wild, including butterflies, birds, bats and more than 20 000 bee species. This year's theme for World Bee Day , " Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all ", highlights the critical roles bees and other pollinators play in agrifood systems and the health of our planet's ecosystems. Indeed, pollinators are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, unsustainable agricultural practices, climate change and pollution. Their decline ...

  Bees and other pollinators are essential to our existence. Thanks to the over 20 000 bee species and various other wild pollinators, plants that form the basis of our diets can be produced. Pollinators help agriculture and biodiversity to flourish. Yet, habitat loss and several  unsustainable farming practices are threatening the health and survival of different species of pollinators. The celebration of World Bee Day on May 20th presents an opportunity to step up our efforts to protect bees and other pollinators . By doing so, we can mitigate risks to food security and nutrition, agricultural livelihoods, biodiversity and the environment.  Let the World Bee Day 2025 guide inspire you to take action and be a part of the buzz!

  This year’s theme “ Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all ” underscores the critical roles of bees and other pollinators in agrifood systems and the health of our planet’s ecosystems . From bees and butterflies to birds and bats, pollinators are the lifeline of agrifood systems, ensuring the reproduction of crops and wild plants alike. They are essential to the production of over 75 percent of crops globally, including fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. In fact, pollination increases not only the quantity, but also the quality and diversity of our food. Nature provides us with a remarkable blueprint for sustainability, and nowhere is this more evident than in the delicate balance between pollinators and their ecosystems . Bees are more than just pollinators – they are indicators of environmental health. Their behaviour and population trends offer insights into the climate and ecosystems. Yet, bees and other pollinators are under threat due to habitat destruction, unsustaina...

Through the country’s Rural Development Programme , Slovenia promotes farming practices that protect human health, ensure sustainable use of natural resources , and preserve biodiversity . These include initiatives like sowing summer crops that provide continuous flowering resources for honeybees , thereby increasing their resilience over winter. Additionally, projects such as “ Pollinators for fruit growers and fruit growers for pollinators ” aim to improve knowledge transfer about wild pollinators in fruit growing and establish good practices for their protection in orchards .

In southwestern Ethiopia, local communities preserve forests , practice organic farming , and maintain diverse home gardens, fostering habitats for pollinators while boosting food security and nutrition and income generation, for instance through organic honey and coffee production . Agroecological initiatives , such as the “More Bees” project in Amhara , promote alternative pest management and pollinator-friendly beekeeping , equipping farmers with eco-friendly practices  that enhance crop yields and support pollinator health .

 Peru is positioning apiculture as a key sector for agricultural sustainability and economic resilience. The Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation is developing a National Plan for Apiculture Development to support beekeeping and pollination services . Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment has established a National Committee to coordinate Peru’s role in Poli-LAC, a regional initiative for pollinator protection . With nearly 40 percent of Peru’s crops dependent on pollinators, these efforts highlight apiculture’s strategic importance for the country’s future.

 The Philippines has implemented environmental conservation and sustainable agricultural development policies and initiatives to protect bees and other pollinators , recognizing their importance in maintaining biodiversity and supporting food production . The government promotes sustainable beekeeping, particularly using native stingless bees, to enhance crop yields and provide livelihood opportunities. The Philippine Forest Honey Network  protects indigenous forest-based communities engaged in traditional honey harvesting . This initiative aims to promote pure forest honey and support the livelihoods of these communities. Research institutions, such as the University of the Philippines Los Baños, have developed beekeeping technologies utilizing native stingless bees, known locally as “kiwot.” These bees have been shown to significantly improve coconut yields, with studies indicating potential increases of up to 80 percent. 

Besides Apis Mellifera , there are other 11 known honeybees species and hundreds of stingless bees. In many cases, these bees have spiritual and cultural significance, medicinal purposes or are used as environmental indicators. Pollinators such as bees, birds and bats, pollinate 87 leading food crops worldwide. Around 10 percent of the total economic value of agricultural output for human food is dependent on insect pollination. About three quarters of the food we eat depend, at least in part, on pollinators. Almost 90 percent of the world’s flowering wild plants (approximately 308 000 species) depend, to varying degrees, on pollinators for their reproduction. Over 200 000 species of animals are pollinators; the vast majority of them are wild and include more than 20 000 species of bees. Pollination enables the production of an abundance of diverse and nutritious fruits, vegetables, and nut species. Protecting bees and other pollinators is one of the pillars of the transformative chang...

Pollinators play a crucial role in helping plants to produce more with less. By transferring pollen within and between flowers , they increase the efficiency of plant reproduction , leading to higher yields of fruits, vegetables and nuts. This natural process boosts crop productivity without the need for additional land, water or synthetic inputs. In essence, pollinators enable farmers to grow more food on the same amount of land while conserving resources and maintaining biodiversity . Improving the wellbeing of pollinators is therefore a sustainable way to produce more food with less environmental footprint.

  Develop and implement national strategies , policies and action plans to protect and enhance pollinator populations and institute risk assessment and mitigation measures. Promote sustainable practices – such as crop diversification , integrated pest management , agroforestry – which enable bees and pollinators to thrive and thereby continue providing essential ecosystem services.

 Now is the time to think about nature and take action to protect pollinators and to Understand their habitats and needs for survival.

Choose native plants and attractive crops , including flowers that bloom at different times of the year, so that they provide food for bees and other pollinators.  Set up bee houses or nesting sites for solitary bees, create hedgerows and leave some space for bees and other pollinators to nest on and under the ground.  Help these tiny miracle workers by reducing the frequency of lawn mowing .

Learn more about beekeeping and local bee products (e.g. honey, pollen, wax, propolis). Buy honey and other bee products from local beekeepers and gatherers.

 Reduce the use of, or find safer alternatives to, harmful chemicals. Avoid the introduction of exotic bees to new landscapes and raise public awareness about the risks of such introduction to local ecosystems.

Get involved in one of the following ways and encourage your network to do so!  Organize a World Bee Day event From online discussions to interactive workshops, public lectures or even quiz night, there are countless ways to celebrate and advocate for bees and other pollinators. Parks and gardens  Many of the plants and trees in the beautiful parks and gardens around the world would not exist without pollinators, making them an ideal venue for World Bee Day.  Have a picnic, plant flowers or capture some buzzworthy moments.  Honey tasting  Can you tell the difference between honeys produced by bees that ‘visited’ different plants? Try new types of honeys or meet up with friends to have a sweet break.  Post a picture  Celebrate World Bee Day by sharing photos of bees or pollinator-friendly actions on social media using the hashtag #WorldBeeDay. Take it a step further by using our AR filter on Facebook or Instagram to create fun and engaging posts, sho...