Necessities of Life: Food, Clothing and Shelter Week
Let’s BEE sustainable! - Innovations and Sustainability in Hungarian Beekeeping
Hungary
Hungary is one of the leading beekeeping nations in the European Union, with centuries-old traditions and a uniquely high density of bee colonies — approximately 13 per square kilometer. Home to nearly 1.2 million bee colonies and over 20,000 beekeepers, Hungary’s ecological conditions are ideal for beekeeping across most of the country. Each year, Hungary produces between 25,000 and 30,000 tons of honey, 60% of which is exported. Among its products, Hungarian acacia honey stands out as a true rarity, recognized as a Hungarikum, while the country’s multifloral and varietal honeys are also of outstanding quality.
This event will spotlight how Hungarian beekeepers are adapting to the challenges of a changing world to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector. Topics will include adaptation to shifting floral resources, technological innovation in beekeeping, and the importance of continuous professional education. New Hungarian innovations in apicultural tools will also be presented — solutions with potential interest for the international beekeeping community.
※
Discussion
- Food tech
- Smart agriculture/forestry/fisheries industry
Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
---|---|
Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
Please watch the Virtual Studio if you are outside the venue.
-
Track Programme
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
- Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.06.13[Fri]
18:30 ~ 20:30
(Venue Open 18:00)
-
- Venue
- Theme Weeks Studio
Programme details
Programme:
- Opening speech
by Dr. István Nagy (Minister of Agriculture, Hungary)
- The ecological and agricultural importance of bees, and the impact of climate change on beekeeping
Speaker: Ildikó Arany (Bükk National Park Directorate / Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences)
- Environmental sustainability: Changes in floral resources from natural and cultivated lands over the past 30 years
Speaker: Dr. András Bónai (Hungarian Beekeepers’ Association)
- Presentation of innovative Hungarian beekeeping technologies
Speaker: Ferenc Stencli (Hungarian Beekeepers’ Association)
- Hungarian acacia honey in the context of social and environmental sustainability: Educational programs and national outreach
Panel Discussion Participants:
Péter Ondré (Agricultural Marketing Centre)
Ildikó Arany (Bükk National Park Directorate / Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences)
Ferenc Stencli – (Hungarian Beekeepers’ Association)
Dr. András Bónai (Hungarian Beekeepers’ Association)
- Q&A Session
Cast
Speakers
István Nagy
Minister of Agriculture, Hungary
View Profile
Close
close
Ildikó Arany
PhD, Advisor, Bükk National Directorate & Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Ildikó Arany has a background in biology and her early career experiences included research in vegetation ecology and biodiversity policy at national and EU level. She earned a PhD in the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the topic of assessing honey provisioning capacity as an ecosystem service. During her research she has applied participatory methods, working with several beekeepers. Currently she works for the Bükk National Park Directorate, being responsible for, among other topics, the protection of pollinator species. She is an amateur beekeeper herself.
View Profile
Close
close
Dr. András Bónai
Full time beekeper, Vice President of the Hungarian Beekeepers’ Association
He graduated as an Animal Breeding Agricultural Engineer, and later as a Specialist Microbiologist. He earned a doctorate in Animal Breeding Sciences. He has taught Microbiology at the university level, while Animal Breeding and Animal Hygiene at the secondary school level. He has been involved in beekeeping for twenty years and has been a full-time beekeeper for the past ten years. He currently manages more than one hundred bee colonies. As a part of adult education, he teaches beekeeping, offering both online and practical training courses, and he also serves as an examiner within the beekeeping education and certification process. He has been active in beekeeping public affairs for five years, both nationally and internationally. Furthermore, he is the Vice President of the Hungarian National Beekeeping Association.
View Profile
Close
close
Ferenc Stencli
Full time beekeper, Member of the Presidency of the Hungarian Beekeepers’ Association
He is a full-time beekeeper. He holds a degree in Technical Management and a master’s in Economics. He initially worked for multinational companies in the fields of information management and service management. Fourteen years ago, he decided to leave that career path and join his family’s beekeeping business instead. Beekeeping has been a tradition in his family for more than a hundred years, therefore, he was born into this profession, and he also earned a professional qualification in beekeeping in 2012. Today, he and his father manage between 200 and 300 bee colonies. He is also a member of the executive board of the Hungarian National Beekeeping Association.
View Profile
Close
close
Péter Ondré
Managing Director of Agricultural Marketing Centre
He has been the Managing Director of the Agricultural Marketing Centre since 2018. Under his leadership, the organization has launched numerous campaigns to promote consumption, particularly in the honey sector. In recent years, promotional efforts have focused on showcasing the diverse range of honey types—especially varietal honeys—while also highlighting the sector's role in agriculture and the importance of pollination. In addition, the organization maintains continuous and close contact with honey producers, who are its regular professional partners. During international export promotions, they provide numerous exhibitors with the opportunity to present themselves, thereby enhancing the global reputation of Hungarian honey.
View Profile
Close
close
Necessities of Life: Food, Clothing and Shelter Week
Let’s BEE sustainable! - Innovations and Sustainability in Hungarian Beekeeping
Hungary is one of the leading beekeeping nations in the European Union, with centuries-old traditions and a uniquely high density of bee colonies — approximately 13 per square kilometer. Home to nearly 1.2 million bee colonies and over 20,000 beekeepers, Hungary’s ecological conditions are ideal for beekeeping across most of the country. Each year, Hungary produces between 25,000 and 30,000 tons of honey, 60% of which is exported. Among its products, Hungarian acacia honey stands out as a true rarity, recognized as a Hungarikum, while the country’s multifloral and varietal honeys are also of outstanding quality.
This event will spotlight how Hungarian beekeepers are adapting to the challenges of a changing world to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector. Topics will include adaptation to shifting floral resources, technological innovation in beekeeping, and the importance of continuous professional education. New Hungarian innovations in apicultural tools will also be presented — solutions with potential interest for the international beekeeping community.
※
-
2025.06.13[Fri]
18:30~20:30
(Venue Open 18:00)
- Theme Weeks Studio
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
Please watch the Virtual Studio if you are outside the venue.
OTHER PROGRAM
Necessities of Life: Food, Clothing and Shelter Week