Melipona Bees Celebrated at CATIE

• Forum and hive producers’ fair brought the community closer to the importance of these pollinators.

Every year on May 20, World Bee and Pollinator Day is celebrated globally. This year, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) commemorated the date on May 27, with a special focus on stingless bees, also known as melipona or native bees.

As part of its ongoing commitment to pollinator conservation and environmental education, CATIE’s Sustainable Agribusiness team organized an enriching event open to both the institutional community and the wider Turrialba population. More than a lecture, the activity was a participatory conversation filled with the exchange of knowledge.

Engineer Ericson Carrillo, from the company Miel Dorada de la Bajura, shared valuable information on the biology, behavior, management, and conservation of melipona bees. These native species are essential for the health of tropical ecosystems and produce a honey rich in antioxidants and antibiotic properties, widely used in traditional medicine.

Throughout the conversation, participants shared experiences and insights, generating an active dialogue that demonstrated the growing interest and awareness in the Turrialba region about the importance of protecting these key pollinators. The high participation of senior citizens and graduate students from CATIE’s Graduate School was especially notable.

Additionally, a hive products fair was held, where attendees could taste and purchase a wide variety of items: honey from different melipona species, natural and creamed honey from Apis mellifera, pollen, propolis, beeswax, and handmade candles, among others.

“The excellent turnout at this activity motivates us to continue promoting spaces for learning and awareness about bees and other pollinators, both within CATIE and in the Turrialba community,” said Evelyn Chaves, from the Sustainable Agribusiness – AGROMIRA team, part of the Environmental Economics and Sustainable Agribusiness Unit (UEAAS/EFD).