Minister Jože Podgoršek has stressed on the occasion that World Bee Day offers the opportunity to think about beekeeping and wild pollinators every year. "They are both undoubtedly good indicators of the preservation of our environment. In the light of this year's FAO slogan, we have to be aware that individuals can only contribute one piece of the puzzle in building the foundations. If we join forces, we can achieve much more – we might even build a house."

Minister Jože Podgoršek addressed the numerous participants of today's key event – the virtual international event of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which is held under the slogan Bee Engaged: Building Back Better for Bees. He emphasised that the Covid-19 pandemic revealed that the world needs a safe, stable and sustainable food supply chain where bees and wild pollinators play an important role. "Pollination by bees and other wild pollinators is one of the most important ecosystem tasks. It is crucial for the functioning of the natural and agricultural ecosystem and, therefore, for food production and biodiversity." Mr Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, also addressed the participants. He pointed out: "It is time to think how to better connect with nature and wild pollinators. We need to take further steps to support these tiny workers and millions of habitats."

The Golden Bee Award was presented this morning at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food. On the initiative of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association, the Republic of Slovenia has launched the highest Slovenian award and the highest recognition in international beekeeping. It can be described as the Nobel Prize in beekeeping. It will honour outstanding achievements in protecting all pollinators and raising awareness of their importance for sustainable agriculture, food security and the preservation of the environment and biodiversity. Creative designs were selected through an anonymous public competition. Mr Urh Wiegele created the winning design for the Golden Bee Award. This year, the award will be exceptionally handed out on the anniversary of the proclamation of World Bee Day, on 20 December. In the future, it will be awarded on World Bee Day.

Wold Bee Day will also be celebrated by Slovenian beekeepers on the 70th general assembly. Minister Jože Podgoršek will attend the general assembly in the afternoon.

Numerous Slovenian diplomatic representations worldwide participate in the activities for World Bee Day. In their events, they stress that the protection of bees and other pollinators is strongly linked to raising the awareness of the general public about the negative human impacts on bees and other pollinators and their devastating consequences for our lives and nutrition. Cultural workers and creators significantly help to raise the public awareness and change the habits and lifestyles. They draw the attention to the importance of bee protection and promote alternative and more pollinator-friendly ways of life, nutrition, accommodation, farming, etc. Architects, designers, writers and film makers put bee houses in urban centres and the necessity of bee protection in the minds of people. They are more successful at it that any other social or economic activity. During this year's International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, Slovenia and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will stress the importance of creative economy for the protection of bees and other pollinators.

For further information, please visit:

• World Bee Day website
• World Bee Day on FAO website
• Follow World Bee Day on FB and IG