World Bee Day 2025

Pollination is essential for agrifood systems, supporting the production of more than 75 percent of the world's crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. In addition to increasing crop yields, pollinators improve food quality and diversity.

More than 200 000 animal species are pollinators, the vast majority of which are wild, including butterflies, birds, bats and more than 20 000 bee species.

This year's theme for World Bee Day, "Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all", highlights the critical roles bees and other pollinators play in agrifood systems and the health of our planet's ecosystems. Indeed, pollinators are increasingly threatened by habitat loss, unsustainable agricultural practices, climate change and pollution. Their decline jeopardizes food production, increases costs and exacerbates food insecurity, particularly for rural communities.

The Second International Forum for action on sustainable beekeeping and pollination will open with a celebration of World Bee Day and will provide a platform to exchange knowledge, showcase innovative beekeeping initiatives, inspire global action for pollinator-friendly agricultural practices, and coordinate efforts to conserve and protect pollinators worldwide.

Draft Programme

Click here for the webcast

Opening of the World Bee Day 2025 (09:00 – 10:00; Ethiopia time, UTC+3)

Moderator: Yurdi Yasmi, Director of Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO

Keynote addresses may include:

His Excellency Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission (AUC) (TBC)
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - video message
Rita Bissoonauth, Director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Liaison Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Her Excellency Mateja Čalušić, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of Slovenia - video message
Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, FAO
QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO - video message
His Excellency Girma Amente, Minister of Agriculture Ethiopia
Guest of Honour – Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (TBA)

Raising awareness and screening of animated film for the youth (11:00 - 12:00; Ethiopia time, UTC+3)

Short remarks by Farayi Zimudzi, FAO representative in Ethiopia and Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa and Representative to the AU and UNECA, ad interim, addressing the youth prior the film screening
Short remarks by Yurdi Yasmi, Director, Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP), FAO
Presentation of animated film entitled “Asali: Power of The Pollinators” by Maya Penn, Film Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), “Maya's Ideas 4 The Planet” (online)
Screening of animated film “Asali: Power of The Pollinators”
Q&A session

This opening is part of the Second International Forum for action on sustainable beekeeping and pollination, a three-day event from 20 to 22 May 2025.

A selection of photos submitted to the FAO World Bee Day contest will be on display at the event in Jimma, Ethiopia. The contest was held to highlight the invaluable connections between pollinators, ecosystems and agrifood systems, raising awareness on the importance of protecting bees and their habitats.

The event is public, and everyone is welcome to participate online.

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