Croatia

Beekeeping in Croatia

Beekeeping is a branch of agriculture that involves the raising of honeybees to produce various bee products. In Croatia, this traditional activity holds significant importance. Here are some key facts about beekeeping in Croatia:
– Honey: Honey is the most well-known bee product and plays an important role in human nutrition. Croatia boasts a rich diversity of nectar-producing plants in its natural meadows, forests, and agricultural areas, ensuring a constant supply of forage for bees.
– Beeswax: Beeswax is another important product used in various applications.
– Other Products: In addition to honey, royal jelly, bee venom, propolis, and pollen are increasingly used as medicinal, cosmetic, and toiletry products.
– Beehives: Various types of beehives are used in Croatia. The traditional Alberti-Žnideršič (AŽ hive) and the more modern Langstroth-Root (LR hive) are the most commonly used.

Work with Youth

In Croatia, there are no national associations for young beekeepers. As HUP Pčelinjak places special emphasis on younger generations of beekeepers, we have connected with the International Association of Young Beekeepers. A member of our Association, “Pčelinja školica,” is a youth beekeeping section within the school cooperative at Marija Jurić Zagorka Elementary School in Zagreb (age 7-14). They participated in the competition in Slovenia in 2023. We hope that this initiative will promote beekeeping among the youth and that, in time, a national championship will be organized, allowing the best of the best to represent Croatia in the future.

National Competitions

There are no national competitions on beekeeping.

Interesting tips for Apitourism

Apitourism is on the rise in Croatia, although it hasn’t reached the same level of prominence as in some other countries. Many honey festivals are held offering visitors a chance to meet local beekeepers, and sample and purchase honey, royal jelly, and other bee products. These events go beyond simple sales, often providing educational experiences about beekeeping practices and the challenges facing Croatian beekeepers. Furthermore, some family farms offer apitherapy stays, allowing guests to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of bee products and participate in tastings.

Biggest Association

There are 87 beekeeping associations active in Croatia, organized geographically to account for the differences between continental and coastal beekeeping. Beekeepers are primarily involved in local associations, which better represent the specific characteristics and needs of their beekeeping practices and regions.
The Croatian Beekeepers Association (HUP) Pčelinjak was founded on May 10, 2018. The founders are a diverse group of individuals connected to beekeeping in various ways, including experienced beekeepers, agronomists, businesspeople, and experts from other fields.
The idea for establishing this association arose from a series of circumstances. Some prominent beekeeping associations have disappeared from the scene, while others do not meet beekeepers’ expectations. Thus, the need emerged for an association that could become one of the leading beekeeping organizations in Croatia, hence the inclusion of “Croatian” in its name.
The members of the association guarantee the long-term prosperity of this beekeeping organization. Our goal is to fight for the long-term prosperity of beekeeping and beekeepers by all means, as well as to protect the honeybee, particularly Apis mellifera. Collaboration with scientific circles is important to us, and we have already established such partnerships, especially since some members and founders have participated in various scientific projects.

Beekeeping Schools

In Croatia, formal beekeeping education for young people is limited. While some secondary agricultural schools offer a beekeeping section for students between 14 and 18 years old, there are no dedicated beekeeping schools at present. However, aspiring and experienced beekeepers can find educational opportunities through courses organized by beekeeping associations. Owning beehives in Croatia does not require any formal certification.

ICYB contact person, email

Dražen Jerman
President
HUP Pčelinjak
predsjednik@pcelinjak.hr
www.pcelinjak.hr

 

Contact for a youngster for AYB
(Association of Young Beekeepers)

TBC