RIYADH: A delegation of Saudi beekeepers recently completed a study tour in Italy, part of the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Reef Saudi, in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The program aims to modernize the Kingdom’s apiculture industry by introducing practitioners to world-leading techniques in bee cultivation and queen bee production, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
This visit is part of Reef Saudi’s new international training initiative designed to enhance farmers’ capabilities and expose them to modern agricultural methods through targeted overseas study tours.
Participants included model beekeepers managing demonstration apiaries and representatives from cooperative societies, selected for their potential to share knowledge throughout Saudi Arabia’s beekeeping community.
“This initiative seeks to elevate Saudi beekeeping standards by exposing participants to cutting-edge global practices and queen bee production techniques, supporting Vision 2030’s agricultural goals,” Reef Saudi officials said.
They emphasized the importance of implementing these Italian innovations in Saudi Arabia’s beekeeping sector while strengthening bilateral knowledge exchange.
During their time in Rome, the delegation gained insights into advanced research at the Animal Health Institute, focusing on rare bee strains and environmental optimization for productivity.
At Bologna’s CREA research center, participants explored innovative honey production techniques and pest-control strategies.
The study tour included hands-on sessions with Italian beekeepers and visits to state-of-the-art packaging facilities. A highlight was the tour of LEGA factory, a global leader in beekeeping equipment, exporting to 65 countries.
With a century-long legacy in apiculture, Italy is a world leader in beekeeping and queen bee cultivation, the SPA reported. The country’s crown jewel is the Apis mellifera ligustica, a native bee strain preserved through conservation programs, selective breeding, and protected sanctuaries.
Italy’s beekeeping excellence is further enhanced by its sophisticated regulatory infrastructure, which includes breeder support systems and stringent quality-control measures. A key factor for Saudi-Italian cooperation is the climatic similarity, as some Italian regions experience summer temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, mirroring conditions in Saudi Arabia.
