APIVITA Renews Its Commitment to the Maltese Honey Bee with Five Additional Beehives and “Bizz Bizz Bizz”

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee is pleased to announce that APIVITA, together with its local distributor Metropolis Pharma Ltd., has renewed its support for the conservation of Malta’s National Insect. APIVITA is supporting five additional beehives dedicated to the Maltese Honey Bee and the production of the video for “Bizz Bizz Bizz”, an early-years Katerina the Honey Bee song created especially for babies and toddlers.

The renewed sponsorship builds on APIVITA’s initial support for five beehives through the Foundation’s Custodians of the National Insect initiative. With the five additional beehives, APIVITA’s support now extends to ten beehives in total, strengthening a long-term collaboration that brings together practical conservation, education and public engagement.

Expanding conservation on the ground

The additional beehives will support the Foundation’s work to conserve and rear the Maltese Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri), a subspecies found only in the Maltese Islands. The colonies will be hosted and managed locally as part of the Custodianship Initiative, which connects sponsors, landowners and experienced beekeepers in a shared conservation effort.

By increasing the number of supported colonies and managing them in carefully selected locations, the initiative aims to encourage mating among local honey bees, strengthen the population and reduce the threat of genetic introgression caused by imported bees. Genetic integrity remains central to the Foundation’s conservation work, alongside its continued advocacy for Conservation Zones and stronger measures to protect the endemic subspecies.

“Bizz Bizz Bizz”: introducing Katerina to the youngest generation

APIVITA’s renewed sponsorship also supports the video for “Bizz Bizz Bizz”, an early-years song from the educational world of Katerina the Honey Bee. Developed specifically for babies and toddlers, the song uses music, repetition and engaging visuals to introduce very young children to bees and the natural world. “Bizz Bizz Bizz” was written by Rita Pace, composed and musically arranged by Augusto Cardinali, and performed by Christabelle Scerri.

This early introduction is an important part of the Foundation’s wider educational mission. By helping children form a positive connection with bees from their earliest years, “Bizz Bizz Bizz” plants the first seeds of awareness, care and responsibility towards pollinators and biodiversity.

Learning through direct participation

The partnership has also extended beyond financial support. Members of the APIVITA team attended the Foundation’s Course in Beekeeping and Conservation, gaining a deeper understanding of Malta’s endemic honey bee, the principles of responsible beekeeping and the importance of protecting local biodiversity.

Their participation reflects the belief that meaningful conservation begins with knowledge. It also demonstrates APIVITA’s willingness to engage directly with the work it supports and to better understand the local environmental challenges facing the Maltese Honey Bee.

“APIVITA was among the very first sponsors to believe in the Custodians of the National Insect initiative, supporting the project at a critical early stage. Its renewed commitment, through five additional beehives and an early-years educational song, demonstrates how a long-term partnership can combine practical conservation with education from the very beginning of a child’s life,” said Abner Joe Buttigieg, Co-Founder and Secretary of the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee.

Part of APIVITA’s international commitment to bees

This collaboration forms part of APIVITA’s Billion Bees Programme, an initiative developed within its collaboration with 1% for the Planet. The programme is dedicated to helping regenerate honey bee populations worldwide and educating communities about the essential role of bees in life and biodiversity.

“APIVITA is honoured to join the Custodianship Initiative,” stated Anagnosti J. Choukalas, Derma Head of Sustainability. “This partnership aligns with our core values of sustainability and environmental stewardship and fully supports the Billion Bees Programme in the context of our mutual participation in the 1% for the Planet organisation. We are proud to contribute to the conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee, an essential subspecies that embodies biodiversity and resilience.”

Through its 1% for the Planet commitment, APIVITA gives back 1% of global sales from selected iconic product ranges to partner non-profit organisations working to regenerate bee populations and raise awareness internationally. Its partnership with the Foundation places Malta within this wider cross-border effort while directing resources towards the conservation needs of a unique endemic subspecies.

The renewed sponsorship shows what can be achieved when international commitment is translated into focused local action. Five additional beehives, an educational video for the youngest members of society and direct participation in conservation training all contribute to one shared objective: securing a stronger and more sustainable future for the Maltese Honey Bee.

The Foundation thanks APIVITA and Metropolis Pharma Ltd. for renewing their trust in its work and for continuing to stand alongside Malta’s National Insect.

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.