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 .