Colombia advances apiculture policy and bee welfare standards

The Colombian government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is developing a public policy to promote and develop the national apiculture sector. This initiative aims to create a sustainable roadmap for growth, protect biodiversity, and recognize the strategic role of bees in food production. The draft is currently undergoing technical validation with the National Council of the Bee and Apiculture Productive Chain (CPAA) before being released for public consultation.

In a related development for the sector, the company Zumbido Dorado, based in Aguazul, Casanare, has become the first apiculture company in Colombia to receive an ‘Excellent Welfare’ certification for animal welfare regarding the Apis mellifera species. This certification was issued by the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) following a methodology developed in collaboration with industry experts and academia to establish technical standards for bee welfare in production sites.