Author: valentina cvjetkovic

On June 10, 2021, a webinar was held on the topic of Secrets of the success of Slovenian beekeeping under the auspices of the Slovenian Beekeeping Academy. It was attended by 35 individuals, beekeepers and beekeeping enthusiasts from abroad. Dr. Peter Kozmus prepared a presentation on Slovenian beekeeping intended for the general public, presented the reasons for the success of Slovenian beekeepers, told something about the organization of Slovenian beekeepers, the history and natural conditions under which beekeepers work in Slovenia. Positive projects were also presented (traditional Slovenian breakfast, World Bee Day initiative, beekeeping tourism in Slovenia and queen breeding), and a few words were dedicated to beekeeping technology, Apis Mellifera Carnica, and the Slovenian Beekeeping Academy and its educational programmes. The event was well received among the participants because it offered a lot of information or as one of the participants wrote: “I appreciate the opportunity to learn from beekeeping experts from Slovenia.”

On June 17, 2021, we organized a webinar for American beekeepers on the topic of Beekeeping with AŽ hives. This time, 15 beekeepers attended the webinar on the topic of Presentation of the basic inspection of bee colonies in the AŽ hive. Under the mentorship of prof. dr. Janko Božič and BAS beekeeping instructor Dominik Jelenc there were told some theoretical basics in the first part of the webinar, and then a practical overview of the basic overview of bee families directly from the apiary at the Botanical Garden in Ljubljana. Participants learned what to look for during basic inspection of bee colonies, learned what weather conditions are suitable for examining colonies and also it was demonstrated in practice how to manage combs so that bee colony will be more successful at the peak of the season and have a larger yield of honey. At the end of the webinar, the participants asked a lot of questions and the webinar was well received, as one of the participants says: ‘‘ I think the training was well done. I find it very valuable that you have shown what has been said with the help of practical video content and live streaming from the apiary. ”

 

At Slovenia’s initiative, the 20th of May was declared World Bee Day by the United Nations (UN) in 2018. This day marks the birthday of the greatest Slovenian beekeeper Anton Janša. This year’s motto of the celebration is “Get involved – building new foundations for bees”.

In the 18th century, Anton Janša and Peter Pavel Glavar left a big mark in the field of teaching and education in Slovenia. Anton Janša was the first teacher of beekeeping at the Beekeeping School in Vienna and the author of important works such as: the Discourse on the Swarming of Bees and the Comprehensive Science of Beekeeping. Peter Pavel Glavar, whose 300th birthday is being celebrated this year, was the initiator of educating beekeepers in the Slovene language, which was intended primarily for the common peasant population in order to improve their social and economic conditions. He founded the first beekeeping school in Slovenia in Komenda and later at Lanšprež in the Lower Carniola region.

Successful beekeeping has always been based on a good knowledge of bees and beekeeping technology. The Beekeeping Academy of Slovenia, which was also founded in 2018, strives to spread and pass on Slovenian beekeeping knowledge, experience and findings to the wider world.

In the coming days, a series of events will take place in Slovenia and around the world to mark this year’s World Bee Day. At four international events, the Beekeeping Academy of Slovenia will present its activities and newly created programs, which it will implement in this year’s beekeeping season:

1. Online event of the Slovenian Embassy in Copenhagen (Denmark) in cooperation with the European Environment Agency: Listen to the Bees, time of the event: 20. 5. 2021, at 10.00

More about the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/136015818555716/?ref=newsfeed

Webinar link: http://eea.livebit.it/

2. Web conference of the Slovenian Consulate General in Cleveland in cooperation with the Ohio State Beekeepers Association: World Bee Day, time of the event: 20. 5. 2021 at 12.00 pm (EST)

More about the event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-bee-day-tickets-142278297217

3. Online international forum organized by the Russian Association for International Cooperation in cooperation with the Society of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Slovenia, the Slovenia-Russia Association and the Russian National Association of Beekeepers: Bee – a symbol of life, friendship and peace, time of the event: 21. 5. 2021

4. Online event in cooperation with the Slovenian Embassy in Skopje and the Nature Conservation Program in North Macedonia: World Bee Day, time of the event: 24.5.2021

DATE: 10 June 2021, 5pm (UTC)
TITLE OF THE WEBINAR: The secrets of Slovenian beekeeping success
LECTURE by dr. Peter Kozmus
The webinar is free of charge*

The webinar is intended for all the beekeepers and beekeeping enthusiasts who are interested into Slovenian beekeeping tradition, history, and efforts to preserve Carniolan honey bee. Dr. Kozmus will present the reasons why Slovenian beekeepers are successfull in their endavours, how they are organized, what are the conditions under which they work and point on particular projects with positive impact. Briefly also Beekeeping Academy of Slovenia will be presented and its educational programmes.

Dr. Peter Kozmus is Vice President of APIMONDIA, International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, professional leader of Breeding program for Carniola honeybee in Slovenia and president of the Council for beekeeping at the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Food in Slovenia. He also is the leader for World Bee Day initiative at Slovenian Beekeepers Association. Furthermore he is a beekeeper with more than 25 years of experience and around 100 bee colonies. His passion is rearing of the queens and the concern for preserving Carniolan bees in Slovenia.

*If you would like to attend the webinar – apply to sca@kis.si until 5 June 2021.

Beekeeping Academy of Slovenia (BAS), an organisational unit of the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, successfully conducted two online educational events for American beekeepers on the subject of beekeeping with AŽ hives in collaboration with beekeeping instructors. 70 American beekeepers attended online educational events held on 26/ 3/2021 and 2/ 4/2021 via the Zoom platform.

Under the mentorship of prof. dr. Janko Božič (Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana), in collaboration with dr. Lucija Žvokelj (National Veterinary Institute, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ljubljana) and experienced beekeeper and instructor Mitja Smrdel, the BAS conducted educational consultations on two separate levels of complexity, bringing American beekeepers closer to beekeeping with AŽ hives. Anton Žnideršič developed a hive around the turn of the 20th century, and today, more than 90% of Slovenian beekeepers use it as a significant Slovenian invention. The course introduced American beekeepers to the specifics of beekeeping with AŽ hives, as well as different aspects of bee health and answered questions about essential beekeeping activities.

The Belgrade Beekeepers’ Association (BUP) asked the Beekeping Academy of Slovenia to organise one lecture in a series of webinars for a wider audience of beekeepers in the Western Balkans at the beginning of March 2021. Dominika Koritnik Trepel, an American beekeeping instructor, gave a two-hour lecture on “Apitourism as an innovative branch of tourism,” which was attended by 59 people. The lecture was given in Serbian. More… >  here