Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee

02/11/2026

🍯 𝗦𝗶𝘅𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 🎓

📜 The sixth cohort attending the 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯's course ‘𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗲‘ has now completed their training!

💚 Despite the many challenges currently facing the local beekeeping sector, the 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 remains committed to its mission of promoting 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 through education, awareness and conservation.

👥 Participants now join the growing 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 community, united by a shared commitment to 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗲 and 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴.

📢 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙥𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨, 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙨, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙨 𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗲!

30/10/2026

💡 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 💚

🙌 The 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is proud to announce that it is the recipient of funds administered by Esplora Interactive Science Centre on behalf of Xjenza Malta, through the 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

✨ During a ceremony held last week in the presence of the Minister Clifton Grima, funding was formally presented to the 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯's administrator Dylan Farrugia, who also had the opportunity to present and explain the project.

📖 The funds will be used to publish books in the 𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙖 𝙛𝙡-𝘼𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙣 series. Aimed at primary school pupils the books will explore five habitats: 𝗺𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀, 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆𝘀, 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 and 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘀

🤓 Children are invited to contribute their ideas through creative activities. The concepts will be shared with Maltese authors 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝘇𝘇𝗼𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶 and 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗹, and illustrator 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗮 from Kari-katuri, to help shape the upcoming books!

𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘛𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘟𝘫𝘦𝘯𝘻𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘢, 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦.



Clifton Grima | Esplora Interactive Science Centre | Xjenza Malta

28/10/2026

🎓 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 🌱🦋

✨ The 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is pleased to announce its upcoming 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽.

🔍 This event split into two sessions, will combine theoretical knowledge with practical fieldwork to promote native pollinator-friendly plants and biodiversity conservation.

🎤 The workshop will be delivered and led by expert Mr. Jonathan Henwood.

𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
Session #1
📅 Saturday 14 November 2026, 9:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Valletta Design Cluster, Valletta
💻 Online participation available
Session #2
📅 Saturday 28 November 2026, 3:00pm – 4:00pm
📍 The 'Grow 10 Trees' Project Nursery, Birkirkara
🪏 Fieldwork session

💶 Participation fees are €10 for 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 members and €15 for non-members. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲!

Join the Plants for Pollinators Workshop to learn about pollinator-friendly plants and contribute to local biodiversity conservation.

26/10/2026

📺 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹-𝙁𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙯𝙯𝙟𝙤𝙣𝙞 💬

🔴 Is-Sibt 24 t' Ottubru fuq TVM ġiet imxandra intervista mal-amministratur tal-𝘍𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘻𝘻𝘫𝘰𝘯𝘪 Dylan Farrugia waqt il-programm Animal Diaries ma' Sarah Grech.

⚠️ Ewlieni fost is-suġġetti mitkellma hu l-bżonn ta’ strateġiji ta’ konservazzjoni serji, speċjalment fid-dawl tal-isfida tal-Bagħal taż-Żunżan li ġarrabna dan is-sajf.



Animal Diaries | TVM

Intervista dwar in-Naħla Maltija li Sarah Grech għamlet lil Dylan F...

25/10/2026

𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧: 𝗞𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗔 𝗙𝗟-𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜 𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗡 🐝🌿

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee (VO/2403) is inviting schools to participate in the STEAM project 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗳𝗹-𝗔𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻.

The project is supported through the 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱, a fund administered by Esplora Interactive Science Centre on behalf of Xjenza Malta.

The book series is intended for children in 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝟯 𝘁𝗼 𝟲 of primary school and is written by well-known Maltese children’s storybook authors Clare Azzopardi and Leanne Ellul, and illustrated by Samuel Casha.

Each story focuses on a particular Maltese habitat and includes an environmental threat caused by human activity. Through the story, Katerina the Honey Bee helps to address the problem, find a possible solution, or bring the issue to the attention of others.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀:

🌿 Maquis (Makkja)
🪨 Cliffs and Caves (Irdum u Għerien)
💧 Freshwater Pools and Valleys (Għadajjar tal-Ilma Ħelu u Widien)
🌾 Saltmarshes (Bwar Salmastri)
🏖️ Sand Dunes (Għaram tar-Ramel)

Through poems, illustrations, photographs, creative writing or other creative activities, pupils will express what they would like to see, discover or learn about the chosen habitat or habitats.

The pupils’ ideas and creative contributions will be evaluated by a STEAM professional, and selected concepts will be passed on to the authors and illustrator of the 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗳𝗹-𝗔𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗻 book series for consideration during the development of the books.

Schools may apply for 𝟮𝟱, 𝟱𝟬, 𝟳𝟱 𝗼𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗹𝘀.

𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗘

Schools must first contact the Foundation to express their interest and confirm whether places are still available.

📧 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼@𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗲.𝗼𝗿𝗴

Participating schools should submit the pupils’ work 𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟳 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

🎁 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 from the Katerina fl-Abitati Maltin series once the books are issued.

Applications will be accepted on a 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀 until all 𝟭,𝟮𝟱𝟬 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 have been allocated.

𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘛𝘌𝘈𝘔 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘟𝘫𝘦𝘯𝘻𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘢, 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘌𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦.

Xjenza Malta | Esplora Interactive Science Centre

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee invites schools to join the STEAM project, Katerina fl-Abitati Maltin, aimed at children in Years 3 to 6. Pupils will engage with Maltes…

24/10/2026

🍯 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 🎓

💚 Despite the many challenges currently facing the local beekeeping sector, the 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 remains committed to its mission of promoting 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 through education, awareness and conservation.

✨ Now in its 𝘀𝗶𝘅𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, our pioneering course, 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗲, continues to equip aspiring beekeepers with the knowledge and practical skills needed to practise responsible beekeeping.

💡 Our goal goes beyond teaching beekeeping techniques. We strive to nurture a 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀, who recognise the importance of safeguarding our endemic 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗲 (Apis mellifera ruttneri), Malta's National Insect.

📢 𝙆𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙥𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙨, 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙨, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙨 𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗲!

21/10/2026

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 | 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐞

The Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee welcomes the Government’s approximately €1 million national action plan to address the Oriental hornet problem and support affected beekeepers, announced in official Press Release PR261766. Coordinated nest removal, research into effective control methods, public awareness and financial assistance following colony losses are positive steps. The commitment to strengthen breeding programmes for the Maltese Honey Bee is particularly welcome.

However, the Foundation raises serious concerns about Point 2 of the official announcement, which provides that only a “proportion” of replacement colonies must consist of the native Maltese Honey Bee, Apis mellifera ruttneri. The Government should clarify this proportion, the conditions applying to the remaining colonies and whether public funds could support the importation or propagation of non-native honey bees.

The Maltese Honey Bee is protected under the national species and flora and fauna regulations as a distinct endemic subspecies. Protecting this subspecies requires safeguarding the genetic identity that makes it Maltese. Any publicly supported measure that encourages further genetic dilution would be incompatible with the purpose of this protection and the conservation duties arising under these regulations.

Through interbreeding and subsequent introgression, genetic material from imported honey bees can spread into the native population. This dilutes the Maltese Honey Bee’s genetic identity and risks eroding locally adapted traits. Increasing colony numbers through non-native replacements could therefore undermine the very resilience that the plan seeks to strengthen.

MEDIBEES findings presented at Apimondia 2025 reported that only 11% of the Maltese Honey Bee population analysed showed no introgression from other subspecies. The underlying samples were collected several years ago, making updated and representative genetic monitoring urgently necessary.

The Foundation therefore calls for a coordinated national monitoring programme to establish the current conservation status, distribution and genetic integrity of the Maltese Honey Bee. Regular, representative sampling would provide a clearer understanding of the extent of hybridisation, identify remaining native populations and guide conservation priorities. Continued monitoring would also allow the effectiveness of breeding programmes and other conservation measures to be assessed over time.

The Maltese Honey Bee has evolved in the islands’ environment over thousands of years. Scientific literature published in 1997 already recorded its ability to defend against local predatory wasps, while the Foundation has documented defensive behaviour against the Oriental hornet. These observations predate the present crisis. Such defences can be overwhelmed by exceptional hornet pressure, but remain valuable traits to conserve, investigate and strengthen.

Comparative research published in 2023 also found that the native colonies studied survived significantly longer and performed better in several measures than the imported Italian colonies tested under Maltese conditions. This supports investment in the Maltese Honey Bee as a basis for sustainable local beekeeping.

Importation also creates opportunities for the accidental introduction of additional pests and pathogens. Malta has already experienced the consequences of introduced bee pests, including Varroa, which arrived in 1992. Rebuilding the sector should include stronger biosecurity and avoid exposing surviving colonies to additional preventable risks.

The Foundation calls for replacement-colony funding to support verified Maltese Honey Bee stock, backed by investment in native queen production, genetic monitoring and measures to safeguard mating and maintain genetic diversity. Hornet-control research should also examine the native bee’s defensive behaviour. These measures should help make suitable native colonies available to affected beekeepers and strengthen local breeding capacity over time.

The Foundation also notes that it was not consulted during the preparation of the plan. It calls for its inclusion in the proposed national forum and in the development of the conservation and colony-replacement measures.

The long-term viability and sustainability of local beekeeping can only be secured by conserving and strengthening the Maltese Honey Bee and its locally adapted genetic heritage. Immediate assistance must therefore form part of a lasting recovery strategy. The current crisis should be used to strengthen native breeding capacity and protect the adaptations on which resilient beekeeping in Malta depends.

Discover the Maltese Honey Bee's vital role in biodiversity and the urgent need for conservation amidst challenges from the Oriental hornet.

19/10/2026

⚠️ 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝗫 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖 𝙋𝙖𝙤𝙡𝙖 🤝

🪤 The 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is pleased to support Christ the King Basilica Paola, Malta through the donation of an 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽 that will be put on the Basilica's grounds.

🙌 We thank the 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢 for its commitment to protect 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗮❜𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁!

🚨 We encourage 𝗣𝗮𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 to report Oriental Hornet nests for removal through our 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 and purchase 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘀 to directly support the 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯’s conservation efforts.

🔍 Find out more about these initiatives on our website: https://maltesehoneybee.org/ 🌐.

18/10/2026

🪵 𝘽𝙚𝙚𝙎𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚@𝙐𝙈 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 ✨

▶️ Catch the 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 's very own Dylan Farrugia talking about 𝘉𝘦𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦@𝘜𝘔, our award-winning project which secured 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 in the 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆 at the 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

♻️ Rooted in the principles of 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲, 𝗥𝗲𝘂𝘀𝗲 and 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲, the aims of this project is to reclaim wood from 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 and 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀 into bee hotels.

🙌 We extend our heartfelt thanks to BOV's 𝘊𝘚𝘙 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 for their continued support. Work on this project is still underway!

WasteServ | European Week for Waste Reduction - Malta | BOV

16/10/2026

🎓 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 🍽️

Are you a . . .
👨‍🍳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 in the 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆
🧑‍🌾 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 processing your 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀
⏳ or looking to 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?

✨ The 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 is expanding its educational activities beyond beekeeping, and facilitating the delivery of 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 (𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗕) by an 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿.

📅 Saturday, 21 November 2026 | 9AM
📍 Face-to-face | Paola Volunteer Centre
⏱️ 7 hours (including examination)
🎓 Category B Licence valid for 5 years
💶 €35 Members | €40 Non-Members

🔗‍️ 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲!



https://maltesehoneybee.org/2026/10/16/course-in-food-handling/

Get more website visits