How much does healthy and genuine honey really cost?

Bees, a symbol of sustainability!

Cyclically we hear alarms that speak of bee deaths and the danger that these very important insects face.

Today I wanted to talk about their work though, honey.

Honey production in Italy

In Italy, the production of a kilo of honey costs between 9 and 10 euros.

This data was detected by Honey Cost, the first survey that analyzed production costs using a scientifically rigorous method.

This study was conducted by CREA Ricerca in collaboration with Osservatorio Nazionale Miele.

In addition to collecting technical, management and environmental data, the study was conducted on 434 beekeeping farms to evaluate technical and economic sustainability and l& #39; management efficiency.

According to research, honey yields per hive vary depending on the beekeeping method.

Different types of beekeeping

For l&' nomadic beekeeping, a yield of about 22 kg of honey per hive is estimated, while for &' stationary beekeeping, the yield is about 12 kg.

In the various countries of &' European Union, there are very diversified prices, with values ranging from about 3-4 euros in the countries of &' Eastern Europe such as Poland, Hungary and Romania, to 15-20 euros in Austria, Germany and Ireland.

In Spain, Europe's largest producer of honey, the estimated price is around 7 euros.

Why are the costs so high?

Milena Verrascina, one of the authors of the &' survey, underlines the &' importance of understanding the costs of producing honey for beekeepers.

This allows them to plan business investments, face challenges and issues, and evaluate the' appropriateness of insurance coverage.

Costing is also a significant parameter for consumers, who are sometimes attracted by lower prices.

Verrascina concludes that high-quality honey, produced by Italian beekeepers who have a wide range of environments, essences and botanical species and a rich biodiversity, cannot have a particularly low cost, and therefore we should be cautious about these products.

Costs that reflect quality

Food quality and safety come at a cost, even in the case of honey production, and consumers must be aware of this.

Choosing honey of safe origin, with direct knowledge of the producers perhaps, makes it possible to stimulate this market and therefore, indirectly, protect the bees of our territories.

Environmental sustainability also inevitably involves the economic sustainability of production. We must always have it in mind!

Matteo Castioni