the-impex-group-v3

Argentina: Federico Romero

Fri, 02 May 2025 21:50:32 GMT

Starting in 1993, Federico Romero was inspired to become a beekeeper thanks to his uncle. He says beekeeping takes a lot of effort and there are many challenges to overcome, including high costs of supplies, maintaining vehicles, supporting employees, and the effects of climate change. One lesson Federico has learned from working with bees is to never give up in the face of adversity. He would like field owners to know the importance of having beehives in their fields and hopes that things can change to protect the bees. Federico believes that beekeepers around the world share passion for the hive and solidarity between beekeepers. "Beekeepers around the world speak the same language."

Argentina: Luciano Terrile

Fri, 02 May 2025 21:50:31 GMT

Luciano Terrile was inspired by his father to become a beekeeper. He is motivated to promote health in his bees. He has learned from his bees the importance of organization in the hive and respecting the organization of each bee. There are many challenges that beekeepers face, including disease and climate, but Luciano believes you can overcome challenges by always being aware of the hive. In Argentina, beekeeping is very artisanal work and you must be very knowledgeable to keep the bees healthy and produce quality honey. Luciano says beekeeping is a way of life and above all things, you should like that it is a physical activity. He believes this is something that beekeepers around the world share.

Ukraine: Voitalyuk Konstantyn

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 23:37:32 GMT

Konstantyn Voitalyuk, a beekeeper in Tomashpil in the Vinnytsia region of Ukraine, started beekeeping in 2017 after discovering the potential for income from honey production. His passion for beekeeping has grown as he has learned the importance of consistency and persistence in this challenging industry. Konstantyn continues to adapt and thrive in an environment with fluctuating market prices, focusing on the long-term benefits of beekeeping.

"I started beekeeping in 2017 after selling wild honey. That gave me the motivation to realize there is an opportunity to do beekeeping as a living. The more I did it, the more I understood that beekeeping is a business that requires both effort and passion. I stay motivated because I see the potential to grow and keep improving every year.

“To succeed in beekeeping, you need to want to do it. The prices can be low, with almost no profit, but you have to be consistent, persistent, and stay in the game. It is not about quick wins; it is about the long-term commitment to your work.

“I am always looking to learn from beekeepers in other countries, especially those in the U.S. and Canada, where industrial beekeeping is large-scale. Although the climate in places like Spain is different, it is interesting to compare. It is important to me that others know that Ukrainian beekeepers manage to survive and thrive, even in very difficult conditions and circumstances.

“While many of us want to improve the planet through pollination, it is important to recognize that we cannot do that without also making a living by selling our wholesome product at a price that allows us to maintain and operate our bees. It is all about balancing passion with the need for sustainable income."

Ukraine: Serhiy Petrovskyi

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 23:32:53 GMT

Serhiy Petrovskyi is an independent beekeeper from Polonne village in the Khmelnytskyi Region of Ukraine. With over 20 years of experience, Serhiy has built a thriving beekeeping practice based on a deep respect for nature and the hard work of his bees. His passion for honey production and sustainable beekeeping practices makes his products stand out for their quality and purity.

"From a young age, I admired the way my father tended to the bees. I was drawn to the idea of being self-sufficient, free from relying on others. My motivation now comes from the satisfaction of seeing the hives grow and thrive—knowing that every jar of honey is a result of hard work and care. I started this journey with a sense of responsibility, and now I am driven to perfect it, no matter what.

“Bees live by a flawless system of organization. There is no chaos, only purpose. If people could see the way bees collaborate with one another, they would understand how much order and precision there is in nature. It teaches us patience, discipline, and the importance of every small action. More importantly, people need to realize that bees are indispensable to the world’s ecosystems. Without them, the balance of nature would collapse.

“I try to manage everything I can, but the real challenge comes when the unpredictability of nature clashes with the demands of the market. Climate change has altered flowering cycles, and price fluctuations make it hard to stay ahead. I work hard to maintain the quality of my honey, which, in the end, speaks for itself.

“Ukrainian honey is more than just a commodity—it is part of our culture. Varieties like rapeseed and sunflower honey are often overlooked, but they are rich in flavor and health benefits. We take pride in producing honey with care and respect for nature.

“Beekeepers worldwide share a deep respect for nature and the environment. We all understand the importance of our work in sustaining life on Earth, and that common bond connects us, no matter where we are."

Ukraine: Mikhailo Sosidko

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 23:17:16 GMT

Mikhailo Sosidko is a passionate beekeeper in Oleksandrivka in the Kirovohrad region of Ukraine who inherited the craft from his father. Over the years, Mikhailo has turned beekeeping into a lifelong dedication and a personal hobby. Mikhailo’s deep respect for nature and his innovative approach to beekeeping have shaped his journey and his insights offer a valuable perspective on the challenges and rewards of working with bees.

"Beekeeping was a gift from my father, passed down to me about 15 years ago. Now, it is not just a business, it is my passion and way of life. Every day, the bees remind me why I started, and I am constantly motivated to give them the care they deserve. I think bees are extraordinary – their lives follow a precise, natural rhythm. Everything they produce is pure, natural, and full of healing power. I use bee products to make tinctures and remedies because I know they are packed with health benefits. Here in Ukraine, our passion never wavers. I want others to know how we cope in tough times and share ideas to keep pushing forward. We have a lot to learn from each other.

Beekeeping is more than just a job – it is a way of life. Once you start, you cannot stop. You develop a love for the bees, and you notice them everywhere. In some countries, beekeepers get great support from their government, but here it is a constant struggle. Like farmers planting crops that do not help the bees, but without the bees, there is no harvest. We all share that commitment to nature, and we have to keep fighting, no matter the odds."

Ukraine: Yosyp Kozlovskyi

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:35:54 GMT

Yosyp Kozlovskyi took up beekeeping after his grandfather’s passing, carrying on the family tradition. His deep love for honey and the joy of working with bees have driven him to embrace the challenges of this demanding profession. Yosyp is determined to keep improving and share the benefits of high-quality Ukrainian honey with the world.

"It all started because I have always had a passion for honey, and my grandfather, who was also a beekeeper, taught me the craft. When he passed away, I felt the need to continue his work, and there was no one else to do it. Now, I am driven by the love for the bees and the joy of seeing the fruits of my labor in the honey I harvest. It is not just a business—it is a continuation of a legacy.

“The bees have taught me the value of punctuality and consistency. Everything in beekeeping requires a steady, patient hand—bees are creatures of habit, and they thrive in order. If you lose that sense of regularity, the whole system falls apart. I wish more people understood that success in beekeeping is not about rushing but about being methodical and committed every single day.

“…the market can be unpredictable, and it is tough to make a living when you cannot guarantee stable pricing. But I have learned to adapt. I keep improving my methods to ensure the quality of my honey remains top-notch, and I work on establishing better relationships with buyers. I want beekeepers in other countries to recognize the high quality of Ukrainian honey. …Varieties like rapeseed and sunflower are often undervalued, but they are rich in nutrients and flavor. We face a lot of challenges, but I believe Ukrainian honey deserves more recognition for its uniqueness and health benefits.

“I believe we all share the understanding that beekeeping is more than just a job—it is a passion. Every beekeeper, no matter where they are in the world, is tied to nature. We all share that bond, and I’m sure that is why beekeepers can quickly connect with each other. It is not just about the bees; it is about respecting the balance of life itself."

Vietnam: Vu Tien Giap

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:39:25 GMT

Vu Tien Giap started beekeeping in 1992. His uncles who kept honeybees near his house inspired him and gave him a passion for beekeeping. “Seeing honeybees diligently working and creating drops of sweet honey filled me with excitement and a desire to learn.” He has learned valuable lessons from honeybees about sacrifice and cooperation in the hive.

"Every honeybee sacrifices itself for the benefit of the whole colony." To him, this lesson goes beyond unity; it’s a powerful source of inspiration that helps him face and overcome life's challenges. One of the biggest challenges for him is long journeys moving beehives, bringing them to new floral areas for nectar. He shared: “I moved hives over hundreds of kilometers, and each time, I may be away from home for several months. At those times, I cannot be with my family, especially when my children are sick, and I cannot take care of them and help my wife. Those are the days when my heart is heavy with homesickness, missing the laughter of my children.” But he also understands that this is an essential part of beekeeping. Those journeys, although difficult and tiring, make him love and cherish his family even more.

What makes him most proud of beekeeping is providing pure drops of honey from nature, contributing to the protection of consumer health, while also preserving a valuable traditional occupation for future generations.

Vu Tien Giap believes that although beekeepers around the world have never met, they all have one thing in common: "We all love nature and cherish every drop of honey we produce. Each drop is the result of our hard work, dedication, and passion."

Vietnam: Nguyen Hoai An

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:20:23 GMT

Nguyen Hoai An used to farm coffee and pepper but switched to beekeeping in 2002. While looking for a new direction, he remembered the honeybees that always appeared around their coffee flower garden during the blooming season. Inspired by nature, he and his wife decided to embrace beekeeping.

Beekeeping brought their family far more than just financial benefits: it provided them spiritual value. The work requires meticulousness and care; every drop of honey collected is the result of patience and attention dedicated to the honeybees.

Managing a bee colony is not easy work, especially when he and his wife have to move the honeybees to new floral areas, far from residential areas. They hope that the beekeeping community in the world, as well as other individuals, will recognize that the value of beekeeping lies not only in the economic worth of honey, but also in the protection and preservation of biodiversity.

Nguyen Hoai An believes that love for nature and passion for work are shared values that beekeepers everywhere wish to convey.

Vietnam: Luong Thi Tuyet

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:14:23 GMT

Luong Thi Tuyet comes from the northern mountains of Vietnam. Her family initially came to the Central Highlands to find work as hired laborers. However, when they became acquainted with beekeeping, they realized it was an opportunity to support the environment and the community. Although her family did not face many difficulties when starting beekeeping, the harsh weather condition in the Central Highlands is a significant challenge. The long dry season made nectar scarce, while the rainy season increased risk of disease and hindered the honeybees’ development. In that situation, she learned to move honeybees to areas with more abundant floral sources, where the climate was favorable for honeybees to grow healthily. Through that, she realized that beekeeping not only requires patience, but also the ability to be flexible and adapt to changes in nature.

Beekeeping has helped her family overcome difficulties, especially when her husband fell ill. Thanks to their savings and income from beekeeping, she was able to cover medical and living expenses. Even though her husband passed away, her passion with honeybees gave her strength to continue beekeeping, so that her children could study with a better life.

Luong Thi Tuyet shared, “Beekeeping not only brings economic value, but also has a profound impact on the agricultural sector. Honeybees are natural pollinators, helping plants pollinate better, increasing crop yields. Beekeeping has taught me to be more responsible and helps me realize that taking care of honeybees every day not only benefits me but also contributes to protecting nature and supporting sustainable development of community.”

Vietnam: Hoang Van Ho

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:12:06 GMT

Family Tradition

Mr. Ho, a Tay from the Daklak province of central Vietnam, has been involved in beekeeping for more than ten years, a family trade he inherited from his father. Since the time he was a child, his father has taught him not only beekeeping techniques, but also the deep cultural values of the trade, which is an important part of his family’s long-standing tradition. Beekeeping for Mr. Ho is not only a way to earn a living, but also a way for him to preserve and continue his family's tradition.

Lessons from Beekeeping

What keeps him going in beekeeping is the lesson of cooperation and solidarity he learned from the honeybees: “Every bee, no matter how small, contributes to the overall success of the entire hive.”

Challenges and Solutions

Despite his passion for beekeeping, he also faces many difficulties, from unpredictable weather conditions to price fluctuations. He believes that unity and sharing knowledge within the beekeeping community are important factors that help him overcome technical difficulties. "We in the beekeeping community always support each other, share our experiences, and help each other when needed. Solidarity is the key to overcoming all difficulties.”

Beekeeping Values

Mr. Ho wants to convey this message about his beekeeping work: "Beekeeping in Vietnam is not just a job, but part of a long-standing tradition, passed down from father to son through many generations, especially for ethnic minorities like us.” He hopes everyone will understand that beekeeping not only helps the community stabilize their lives but also contributes to protecting forests and nature. For him, the greatest pride is to be able to provide everyone with drops of pure and rich-flavored honey as a precious gift of Mother Nature.

Vietnam: Dang Tho Nguyen

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:07:37 GMT

“Born and raised in a rural area on the outskirts of Hanoi, my parents were dedicated farmers. I had the opportunity to see beekeeping farms near my home. Through observation, I found honeybees truly fascinating. After high school, I enrolled in a beekeeping course to learn beekeeping techniques and bee health.

“Since 1996, my life and that of my family have been closely tied to beekeeping. My wife was also born into a family with three generations of beekeepers, from grandparents to siblings, to our children. Our three children love honeybees and know how to care for them.

“The diligent, tireless work of honeybees, from early morning until dusk—whether tending larvae, building the hive, or collecting nectar and pollen—inspires me to care for them daily. Traveling with the bees to follow nectar sources throughout the year has allowed me to make many friends in various regions. My colleagues and I often gather at nectar-rich areas, exchanging experiences and sharing joys and sorrows. Cultural exchanges with local communities near our apiaries bring joy to my life, helping ease the loneliness of being away from family.

“The nomadic life away from family is one of my greatest sorrows in beekeeping. Some of the other challenges beekeepers face now are the use of pesticides, causing the death of dozens of colonies, resulting in significant losses, and the shrinking U.S. export market, our primary source of demand, due to anti-dumping tariffs.

“Meeting with beekeeping colleagues from various countries at different conferences and symposiums has been a good opportunity. These events allowed me to exchange and learn about scientific techniques, beekeeping practices, and honey markets in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Japan, Thailand, India, and more. I have since integrated and applied the knowledge gained at these conferences in my apiary.

“Honey is a natural sweetener with many valuable health benefits, especially today, as consumers increasingly lean toward natural products and environmentally-friendly economic activities. Honey and honeybees, raised by beekeepers, are among the few economic activities that achieve both of these goals. I wish that beekeepers worldwide can enjoy a stable and prosperous life through their work.”

Vietnam: Ngoc Duong Nguyen

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 23:48:33 GMT

“I was born in Phu Tho province, where there's a long tradition of beekeeping. As a child, I was captivated the first time I saw golden honey and tasted its sharp sweetness with a lingering fragrance. I learned from a beekeeper that the small bees diligently flew in and out of their hives from dawn to dusk, gathering nectar from surrounding flowers to make honey. The sweetness of honey, the hardworking bees, the beekeepers’ skillful care, and their smiles during harvest inspired me to choose beekeeping as my profession, both to fuel my passion and to make a living.

“Working with bees, I grew to admire their organized lives, the remarkable division of labor, and their close connection to the natural environment. Their silent dedication became a mirror for my own work ethic. Honey has become my family's main source of income, allowing us to build a stable, happy life. Our three children can attend school, and we can care for our elderly parents and give my honey to friends and relatives as gift. Traveling with the bees to follow nectar sources has also allowed me to see breathtaking landscapes, learn about the unique customs of different regions, and make friends in their communities. To me, this mobility is one of the most compelling aspects of beekeeping.

“But beekeeping isn't only sweetness and fragrance; it has its share of bitterness and sorrow. With nearly 30 years in this profession, I’ve spent more time with my bees than with my family. Many lonely, cold nights have been spent in forests or isolated fields without conveniences. During storms, I brave the elements to check and protect the hives or even move them urgently. I constantly guard against diseases, parasites, and sometimes even thieves or people who resent the bees out of ignorance. But none of these challenges compares to the despair I feel as a professional beekeeper when we have a bad season or when honey prices fall. In those times, my wife and I face our creditors or find ways to cover expenses like labor, equipment, feed, transport, and loan interest. And we struggle to find the funds to reinvest in beekeeping.

“Years ago, some young people came to me to learn beekeeping, but in recent years, they’ve stopped. Persistent hardships, from crop failures to price drops, have driven many of my colleagues to abandon beekeeping for other work. Most beekeepers left are now over 40 years old, and if things don’t improve, I fear there would be very few professional beekeepers left in the near future.

“Vietnam is a developing country, with over 65% of its population in agricultural activities. Its rich vegetation provides nectar sources for honeybees for up to six or seven months a year. Our nectar plants include coffee, cashew, avocado, rambutan, longan, and lychee, but rubber and tropical acacia trees contribute significantly to honey production yearly. Our honey is good and distinctive in texture, taste, and color, popular among customers. Before 2020, my honey was mainly exported to the U.S., but since 2022, I’ve been disheartened by large stockpiles and lowering prices. I learned that Vietnam’s honey export market faces steep anti-dumping tariffs, the highest among honey exporting countries to this market which has been the most important market for my product. In response, I’ve reduced my number of hives by more than half, yet the income still can’t cover costs since I have no other income source.

“I wish for opportunities to connect with beekeepers abroad from America, Europe, India, Thailand, Japan etc. to share beekeeping knowledge and experiences, to exchange joys and challenges like dealing with natural disasters, bee diseases, bee breeds, and honey marketing. Beekeepers might likely understand my concerns about unfair competition that threaten our industry globally. I hope that solidarity and mutual understanding among beekeepers, consumers, and regulatory agencies can address these issues, helping us secure a stable income and allowing consumers to access best quality of authentic natural honey to boost their health.

“Honey has long been a nourishing food, enjoyed by humans since prehistoric times. Customers buy honey from my farm not only to consume as table honey but also for remedies for coughs, colds, or cooking, and skincare. Honeybees provide not only honey but also are crucial pollinators, enhancing crop productivity, quality, and biodiversity.”