Honey exports could become a growth engine for the country, if authorities gave more incentives and Romanians decided to 'give bees a chance'. However, a change in mentality is needed. “Romanians do not use a lot of honey because of mentality, children prefer to eat fast food products, full of sugar,” said Romania's Agriculture Minister Stelian Fuia, who recently attended the National Honey Fair. Fuia himself said he could become a bee keeper after leaving public office.

A Chinese delegation will visit Romania in May and beekeeping is one of their areas of interest.

Romania exports around 80 percent of its organic honey, with Germany and the Nordic countries being the main export destinations. In 2010, Romania exported some 3,650 tonnes of organic honey as bulk exports. In 2010, Romania had 867 producers of organic honey, while last year the number had risen to 927.

The Agriculture Minister believes beekeeping is an area with potential for the future, and he believes beekeepers have an option in Romania, where training is offered and natural resources are abundant.

editor@romania-insider.com