This decline in profitability is linked to several factors: the impact of climate change on bee populations and honey production, the sector’s heavy reliance on natural conditions, increased production costs, and the negative effects of cheap honey imports on the domestic market.
Although Romania remains one of the European Union’s main honey producers, the future does not sound very good.
Fewer young people are enrolling in beekeeper training programs organized by the Romanian Beekeepers Association (ACA) in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Education—programs that award diplomas recognized across Europe.
A few years ago, ACA had branches in more than 20 counties; now, only five or six remain, as young people lose interest in the trade.
Many agricultural high schools have also closed their doors.
According to ACA president Ioan Fetea, climate change forces beekeepers to spend more on supplementary bee feed whenever trees are damaged by drought or other extreme weather events.
Romanian beekeepers are also struggling with competition from non-EU honey imports, particularly from China. Much of the honey sold in Romanian supermarkets is blended with cheaper honey from countries such as Ukraine or China, making it difficult for local producers to compete on price.