The beekeeping industry is having a tough time. Profitability has fallen enormously, while the market is flooded with cheap imported honey.
– In the long term, it is a question of our domestic food supply. Bees are extremely important for the cultivation of fruit and vegetables, says Richard Johansson, adviser at Sweden’s Beekeepers National Association.
In Sweden, there are around 17,000 organized beekeepers and many hobby beekeepers. But it becomes more difficult for them to make a living. Increased costs for, for example, packaging, fuel and shipping in combination with an increased import of cheap honey mean that profitability has declined sharply.
– It is more difficult to make ends meet as a Swedish beekeeper, says Richard Johansson.
“Importing cheap honey of questionable quality”
Half of the honey sold in Sweden is imported. The country of origin is often unclear, something Richard Johansson is critical of.
– The labeling “mixture of EU and non-EU honey” really only means that the honey is not from the moon.
– There is a lot of counterfeiting of honey going on. It can be diluted with, for example, rice syrup, then it will be cheap to produce. The honey is industrially mixed and sold as ordinary honey.
Crucial for our food supply and diversity
About a hundred companies produce a large part of the Swedish honey. If they were to close down their operations, many bees would disappear. And that would have major consequences for the ecological system, says Richard Johansson.
– Over 75 percent of the world’s agricultural crops are wholly or partially dependent on pollination. This is not just about companies struggling. The situation is serious for global sustainability, says Richard Johansson.