In 2016, at the FAO Regional Conference for Europe, the Republic of Slovenia proposed World Bee Day to be celebrated on 20 May each year with the support of Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Association. May 20 is the birthday of Anton Janša, the founder of modern beekeeping and a native of Breznica, a village in Slovenia’s Gorenjska region. In 2017, the UN General Assembly unanimously declared May 20 as World Bee Day.
This year’s theme "Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all," highlights the critical roles bees and other pollinators play in our food systems and ecosystem health. Pollinators support over 75% of global crop production, yet face mounting challenges from habitat loss, unsustainable farming practices, climate change, and pollution. The decline of the world's 20,000+ bee species and other pollinators threatens food security, particularly in rural communities.
The 2025 celebration will specifically spotlight the vital roles of bees and other pollinators in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, and food security and nutrition. Pollination experts emphasise that nature-friendly agricultural approaches like agroecology and integrated pest management can help sustain pollinator populations while ensuring stable crop yields and enhancing biodiversity.
Many cities around the world are now investing in urban beekeeping to help combat declining bee populations and to encourage sustainable economic growth in their local agriculture sector. Beehives located in cities produce healthy and productive bees due to greater biodiversity and fewer pesticides used compared to many rural areas.
World Bee Day provides an opportunity for governments, public institutions, business, community organisations and concerned citizens to promote actions that will protect pollinators and their habitats, improve their abundance and diversity, and support the sustainable development of beekeeping.
For more information visit this website.
Further reading on the use platform:
Ljubljana Bee Path case study