The overarching development objective of Apis Pro Futuro is to implement systemic innovative solutions in the beekeeping sector resulting in increased efficiency of honey production, improved bee health, reduced labor intensity of the apiary management process. The Apis Pro Futuro project contributes to food security. It will help balance the size of Apis mellifera populations against wild pollinators. The project is also part of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by reducing CO2 emissions (using the green energy component), the possibility of shortening the supply chain resulting from the production and distribution of honey. The Apis Pro Futuro project thus supports the implementation of the EU's "field to table" or "hive to jar" strategy, which is at the heart of the European Green Deal, which aims to address the challenges and accelerate the transition to sustainable food production, creating an economic, social and environmental basis for food security for current and future generations. The need and importance of the Apis Pro Futuro project are obvious.In the volume of imports (the EU imports 40% of honey from third countries of countries) as much as 14% do not have the required quality (unfair practices of mixing honey with sugars). The Apis Pro Futuro project will also contribute to the provision of information on honey quality, allow the full integration of beekeepers' communities together with supporting institutions: veterinary or scientific spheres. Honeybee colonies are indispensable for agriculture and the environment, providing reproduction of plants through pollination, while beekeeping contributes to rural development. Beekeeping is practiced in all EU countries and is characterized by varying production conditions, yields and management practices. The EU is the second most important producer of honey after China. However, in the EU, honey production covers only 60% of consumption, and 40% is imported from third countries. Within the EU, the countries with the highest honey production (Romania, Spain, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Greece, France and Poland) are mainly located in Southern Europe, where climatic conditions are more favorable for beekeeping. The EU offers a variety of bee products, not just honey, including pollen, propolis, royal jelly and wax. All honey sold in the EU must meet the quality and labeling rules of the Directive (200/1110/EC). EU member states implement national beekeeping programs that cover three-year periods. Beekeeping programs for 2020-22 were approved by EU Executive Decision 2019/974 in all EU countries. The projected budget is €240 million, an increase of 11% compared to the funding available for 2017-19. Half of this will come from the EU budget and the other half from EU countries, according to EU Executive Decision 2019/974. The allocation of EU funds for these programs depends on the number of hives in each member country. The legal basis for this support is EU Regulation 1308/2013 establishing a common organization of markets in agricultural products, supplemented by EU Regulation 2015/1366. EU Implementing Regulation 2015/1368 lays down detailed rules for the application of national beekeeping programs.
