UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Those interested in learning about beekeeping practices and challenges in different parts of the world can attend “Beekeeping Around the World,” a free, six-week webinar series offered by Penn State Extension.
Webinars will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays from Feb. 12 to March 19. Each week will feature a different location, and presenters will discuss what beekeeping is like there.
The series will cover the following locations:
“Italy,” Feb. 12. Attendees can learn about how Italy’s varied forage landscape offers rare and distinctive honey varieties, with each region contributing unique flavors. Speakers will explore the history, modern innovations and cultural richness of beekeeping in Italy.
“Israel,” Feb. 19. This talk will highlight Israel’s commercial beekeeping industry, honey and pollination production, and the nation’s global leadership in bee-related innovation.
“Zimbabwe,” Feb. 26. Participants can learn about Zimbabwe’s potential for honey production using the nature-based approach. Topics will include the country’s diverse flora, varied ecological and climatic conditions, and bees with high resistance..
“Korea,” March 5. Speakers will discuss Korea’s history of Apis cerana beekeeping, the growth of Apis mellifera beekeeping and the country’s surrounding beekeeping industry. This webinar will explore the honey bee pest, Varroa destructor, Haplotype K1, and other pests that Korean beekeepers must deal with, including Tropilaelaps mites, Asian giant hornets and yellow-legged hornets.
“New Zealand,” March 12. Participants will hear from speakers about the story of New Zealand’s mānuka tree and the regulatory framework that has been established to authenticate New Zealand mānuka honey.
“Northern Quebec,” March 19. This webinar will explore the history of Miels D’Anicet, a 25-year-old beekeeping operation in the Nordic conditions of Northern Quebec’s upper Laurentians. Speakers will discuss honey production, queen production and value-added products in cosmetic and gourmet lines.
Interested individuals can access on-demand webinars from previous “Beekeeping Around the World” series — covering Sweden, the Himalayas, Mexico, Lesotho, Thailand, Ukraine, Brazil, India, Turkey, Kenya, the Yukon Territory and France — for free on the Penn State Extension website.
Penn State Extension offers this series free of charge, but participants must register by 11:59 a.m. on each webinar date to receive the link to access the live webinar.
Registrants will receive a link to the recorded webinar within 10 business days after the live event. The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.
More information about the series is available on the Penn State Extension website.