The pollinators and agricultural practices prize was launched for the first time this year in a bid to promote good practices and collaboration between farmers and beekeepers.
Speaking at the event sponsored by Lesieur, Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen said “European farmers and growers recognize the need to have suitable conditions in Europe to protect pollinators as they play a key role in safeguarding a sustainable European agriculture sector. At the same time, bees rely on crops for their food. A lot of good practices have therefore been developed by farmers and growers and this prize aims to reward and encourage this”.
MEP Tibor Szanyi, member of European Parliaments Agriculture and Environment Committees, said “My main message is No bees No food. The future of mankind lies partly in the hands of beekeepers. We have to step up research to find solutions”.
At the event, first prize went to a project “Poll’ Aisne Attitude” created in the region of Aisne and member of the French Farm Organisation FNSEA for good agricultural practices vis-à-vis pollinators. Over a five year period, 100 new beehives were created in the project “Poll’ Aisne Attitude”in the region of Aisne with 100 farmers signing to the code of good practices with a positive impact on biodiversity. The project involved members of the French Farm Organisation FNSEA with farms, beekeepers, beehive schools, cooperatives, chamber of agriculture, regional states.
Second prize went to a Swedish project created in the region of Ransta, West of Stockholm, covering 800 ha and owned by 3 farmers. The 3 year project “The Pollinator” created an environment with many pollinating species with guaranteed pollen and nectar flow from early Spring to late Summer. It is already into its third year with some new objectives such as how windy surroundings impact on harvest, pollen collecting impact and Phacelias impact on soil and energy consumption. Key organisations in the project were two Swedish Beekeeping Organisations, the Swedish Farmers Association (LRF), Swedish Seed Growers, the Swedish Board of Agriculture, The Swedish Transport Adminstration, Farmers Grain Cooperative, An agricultural High School.
Third prize went to the agri-cooperative CAVAC, member of Coop de France, for the APAP Project which involved managing rural areas and modifications to agricultural practices in favour of pollinators. The project favoured the development of communities of wild pollinators with domestic ones in order to improve the agri-ecological potential of the region. It resulted in an improvement in yields and increase in honey production. The project led by CAVAC involved 25 farmers, 2 beekeepers, IN VIVO, FDSEA Beekeeping Section, the National Natural History Museum, Regional Centre for Biodiversity, ONIRIS Nantes, The Hunting Federation, INRA Le Magneraud.
