Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Productivity

​Innovations for sustainable production seek to propel the beekeepers sector

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

A new initiative could help beekeepers to lower their production costs, increase wax production, produce higher quality honey and improve their commercial opportunities.

Kingstown, 30 May, 2017 (IICA). The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Beekeepers Association and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation (MAFFRT) are embarking on a new initiative to introduce the concept of perm-apiculture to local beekeepers, as part of a strategy to encourage the adoption of more sustainable systems for beekeeping.

Th​e​​ ​main feature of the new initiative is the introduction of the Perone Hive. The innovation brings with it several advantages for the beekeepers including: lower production cost, increased bee wax production, control of pest and brood diseases, promotion of the use of organic practices and ultimately, higher quality honey.

“Perhaps the most important early advantage seen by the producers is the increased production of beeswax; this is an important input into their production process as almost all of it is currently imported. Therein lies a commercial opportunity which is eagerly being anticipated by some producers as an input for beekeepers and for other industries”, affirmed the technical specialist of IICA in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Michael Dalton.

Through this action, perone hives would be constructed and established on four existing apiaries, allowing for evaluation by beekeepers of the potential and possibilities of this method of beekeeping. In the process, 26 farmers are to be trained in this methodology through a series of classroom and field activities to ensure proper transfer of the innovation.

At the opening workshop, beekeepers were exposed to the theory of perm-apiculture as well as to the new perone hive boxes. The forum provided much food for thought as to how locals could adapt the method to their context. This activity has set the stage for all future activities under the project.

This initiative falls under IICA’s Family Agriculture Project, which seeks to support the sustainable development of family farms and increase their contribution to food and nutrition security and the rural economy.

 

More information:

Michael Dalton, IICA’s Technical Specialist in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

michael.dalton@iica.int

Share

Related news​

San José, Costa Rica

July 4, 2025

A new IDB-IICA publication maps the sustainable livestock farming initiatives underway in the countries of the Southern Agricultural Council (CAS)

This document summarizes the work carried out during the first year of operation of the Sustainable Cattle Farming Platform of the Americas. This is a collaborative space managed jointly by IICA and the IDB whose mission is to contribute to information sharing, collaboration, and the generation and dissemination of knowledge on the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of livestock production systems that coexist in the different regions of the Americas.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

San José, Costa Rica

July 3, 2025

IICA promotes environmental education in the classroom with its handover of the first Urban Productive Garden in Costa Rica

Officers of IICA’s Community Outreach Association, APC, handed over tools and guides to the “República de Paraguay” school, for the purpose of establishing a productive garden.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Manuel Otero, Director General del IICA; José Emilio Guerrero, profesor de la UCO de España; Rosa Gallardo, Directora de la Cátedra de Inteligencia Artificial y Agricultura del mismo centro académico; Carlos Alzate, experto en IA y CEO de AI Fund; Gloria Abraham, Carlos Gustavo Cano Sanz, Eduardo Trigo, y Martín Piñeiro, miembros del Consejo Asesor para la Transformación de los Sistemas Agroalimentarios del Instituto; y Jorge Werthein, Asesor Especial del Director General del IICA.

San José, Costa Rica

July 3, 2025

Artificial intelligence represents a revolution with great potential for agriculture, experts say during IICA’s Advisory Council session on Agri-food Systems Transformation

During the discussion, participants emphasized the need for the integration of AI to be an inclusive process, with special attention given to small-scale and family farmers. It was also stressed that AI should not be seen as an end in itself, but rather as a means to transform agriculture with a focus on value chains.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins