The Lanzarote Island Council's Experimental Agricultural Farm delivered this Monday, June 22, to the Lanzarote Beekeepers Association several specimens of Canarian black bee queens from La Palma, an action that responds to a historical demand from the island's beekeeping sector and will allow improvement of the genetics of existing hives on the island.
The event, held at the Experimental Agricultural Farm facilities, culminates months of coordination work between institutions and beekeeping associations promoted by the Lanzarote Island Council to facilitate the arrival of pure Canarian breed specimens to local producers.
The president and councilor for Livestock of the Lanzarote Island Council, Oswaldo Betancort, pointed out that “beekeeping is an emerging activity on our island that has enormous environmental and agricultural value. From the Island Council, we have worked to make possible a demand that the sector had been raising for more than eight years, coordinating all the necessary procedures so that these queen bees can reach Lanzarote and contribute to improving our hives.”
Betancort recalled that currently twelve producers are engaged in this activity on the island, managing more than 300 hives. “Honey production is limited, but of extraordinary quality. Furthermore, the role of bees in crop pollination and in maintaining ecological balance is fundamental for Lanzarote,” he added.
The president of the Lanzarote Island Council especially thanked the support of the La Palma councilor for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty, Alberto Paz; and Elías González, president of the Beekeepers' Animal Health Defense Group (ADS) of La Palma, for their invaluable collaboration in enabling the delivery that will improve the genetics of the island's bees.
The queen bees were delivered to the Lanzarote Beekeepers Association, which subsequently distributed them among the island's professionals to reinforce existing hives, create new colonies, and contribute to the conservation of the Canarian black bee, considered an autochthonous breed of great value for the Archipelago. The initiative is part of the line of collaboration established between Lanzarote and La Palma to guarantee the future of this species and strengthen the island's beekeeping activity.
The Canary black bee plays an essential role in the pollination of local flora and crops. Its conservation contributes to the maintenance of island ecosystems and the strengthening of an activity that continues to grow progressively in Lanzarote.
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