On Friday evening, the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee held the second in a series of community meetings at the Attard Local Council’s Community Hall. The event was made possible by the support of the Attard Local Council, Northern Regional Council, and is part of the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS) for 2024 — managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) and supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV) — once again drew an enthusiastic crowd eager to learn about Malta’s National Insect.
The meeting, led by the Foundation’s president Dylan Farrugia, featured insights from seasoned beekeepers Arnold Grech, Joseph Calleja, Michaelangelo Muscat, and Jorge Spiteri, alongside contributions from distinguished academics Prof. David Mifsud and Simone Cutajar. Their collective expertise provided a comprehensive overview of the Maltese Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri), emphasising its importance as a cornerstone of Malta’s natural heritage. This was then followed by open discussions with the public in attendance on the various themes explored.
The evening’s discussion focused on the challenges posed by importing foreign honey bees to the Maltese Islands. Concerns centered around the indirect introduction of pathogens, pests, and parasites, which have previously caused significant harm to the fragile local apicultural sector. Emerging threats from novel pathogens were also highlighted. The talk then moved on to the negative effects of hybridisation, which dilutes the Maltese Honey Bee’s unique genetic traits. These issues threaten both biodiversity and the sustainability of Malta’s apiculture.
The discussion also underscored the advantages of rearing the native Maltese Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri). Its adaptability to Malta’s climate, resilience to local pests, and efficiency as a pollinator, the native bee is vital for supporting the island’s biodiversity and agricultural productivity. Other indirect challenges; such as removal of rural flora, urbanisation and climate change were also discussed. These wider challenges not only threaten apiculture sustainability, but also a wider ecological context.
Attendees enjoyed a warm atmosphere, with tea, coffee, cakes, and pastries provided during the intermission. The social break fostered lively discussions among participants, reflecting a shared commitment to the conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee. All attendees received postcards from the Foundation and seed packets of Maltese flora beneficial to bees, generously donated by the Grow 10 Trees Project; a practical step towards growing important floral resource for pollinators!
Once again, this meeting marked an important step in raising awareness about the vital role of the Maltese Honey Bee and the need to safeguard its future. The Foundation’s initiative continues to inspire the community to protect this unique subspecies, ensuring its survival for generations to come.
To stay up to date with the Foundation’s work, we warmly invite you to join our WhatsApp community. The smooth functioning of our organisation relies on financial resources, and your support is essential. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference in advancing our mission. You can help by joining the Foundation’s cause, become a supporter for just €10 a year or make a donation here: Support the Foundation.
Disclaimer: This project has been funded by the Small Initiatives Support Scheme (SIS) managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector (MCVS) supported by the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV). This project/ publication reflects the views only of the author, and the MCVS cannot be held responsible for the content or any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Small Initiatives Support Scheme 2024
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Leave a Reply