Young Beekeepers from Around the World Gather for International Competition
Elija (team Austria), Elan (team Australia), and Nikol (team Bulgaria) are among the young beekeepers participating in a global event that celebrates and promotes beekeeping among youth. From managing a few hives with their families to assisting in commercial apiaries, these young individuals have convened this week for the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers (IMYB), hosted in Northern Ireland for the first time.
Approximately 75 competitors representing 27 countries are involved in this prestigious event.
Elija, representing Austria, manages 15 beehives alongside his mother at their home. He described one of the competition tasks:
"We took the practical at the beehives, we have to look after the bees and tell the judges what we can see,"
He noted that while there are similarities, the Irish honeybees exhibit a slightly more aggressive behavior compared to those he tends at home.
Elan, from Australia, personally maintains four hives, while his family operates approximately 700 hives commercially. He commented on the differences encountered during the competition:
"Working with British National hives had been a bit different as I am used to Langstroth hives. And the bees, I would say, were a tad more aggressive than the ones down under, with me getting stung as well."
Nikol, representing Bulgaria, cares for seven beehives with her father. She shared her experience working with the bees at the event:
"I have really enjoyed working with the bees in the apiary. They are almost the same as the ones I have in Bulgaria. Here they're a little bit more aggressive but I haven't got stung so it's fine."
Six young participants represent Northern Ireland, including John, who has been involved in beekeeping since childhood and is competing alongside his sister for the first time.
John expressed his enthusiasm about the event:
"It's been great. I've been making new friends, it's been very fun. We've been going around wee spots doing tasks like making frames, we made a super and designed labels, so it's been very fun."
What is the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers?
The International Meeting of Young Beekeepers (IMYB) is recognized as the world's largest gathering of young beekeeping talent. This 14th edition marks the first time the event is hosted in Northern Ireland.
Participants engage in various activities including hive inspections, equipment construction, country presentations, and wildflower planting. Teams are composed of young beekeepers from multiple countries to foster learning and cultural exchange.
The previous meeting was held in Dubai, and Turkey is scheduled to host the next event.
The Ulster Beekeepers Association (UBKA) is organizing the event, which runs until 8 July.
Organizers Highlight the Enthusiasm of Young Beekeepers
Brian Grzymek, vice chairman of the UBKA and one of the event organizers, praised the participation of young people in beekeeping:
"It's brilliant to see so many young and enthusiastic people taking up beekeeping. There's a really good mix of youngsters who are interested and love bees, and they come here for a beekeeping competition but also to make new friends, to learn more about beekeeping and to see how people beekeep in other parts of the world."
He emphasized the importance of youth for the future of beekeeping in Northern Ireland:
"In Northern Ireland we do have a number of young beekeepers... but the thing is the future for Northern Ireland's beekeeping actually lives with the young."
Funds raised through the event will be allocated to support young beekeepers.
Support from Agricultural Organizations
David Cunningham, president of the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, visited the apiary to observe the activities of the young participants. He commented on the event:
"There was a lot of activity going on when I visited the apiary. It was good to get close up and have a look. The enthusiasm of the young people that we're seeing here from 27 countries is absolutely fantastic."
He highlighted the significance of pollination in agriculture:
"Pollination feeds the world. It's critical in the agricultural world, and it's so important that we have and maintain that."
