World Bee Day

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...

  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...

  Pollinators, such as bees, birds, butterflies, and bats, play a vital role in the health of plants, animals, people and the environment. This World Bee Day , here are five reasons pollinators are vital contributors to One Health. They help feed the world Pollinators contribute to 35 percent of the world’s total crop production, supporting 87 of the 115 leading food crops, including fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts. These crops are critical for diverse diets and livelihoods. Without adequate pollination, yields decline, food becomes scarcer and more expensive – placing food security and the livelihoods of farmers and communities at risk. They support human health through better nutrition. Pollinators ensure the availability of many nutrient-dense foods - like berries, seeds, nuts, and vegetables - that are crucial for balanced diets and disease prevention. Without them, the supply of these foods could decline, leading to poorer diets and negative health outcomes. Pollination al...