Climate change hits Italy's beekeeping industry hard

As the globe gets warmer, Italy's beekeeping industry faces severe impacts from climate change, leading to a decline in honey harvests.

Piedmont, a major honey-producing region in northwest Italy, has more than 400 apiaries.

A veteran beekeeper Massimo Carpinteri, who has been in the industry for nearly 50 years, said that unusual weather this year has drastically reduced honey production, resulting in the average honey yield per hive this spring only 3.7 kilograms, roughly one-sixth of the usual amount. "The seasons are a bit reversed. Winter is warmer. But when April arrives, it begins to freeze, it begins to rain, it starts to get cold. And this year the rain and the cold weather lasted from early May to mid-June. So it is a very bad year for honey production," said Carpinteri.

Carpinteri also said that extreme weather conditions have become more frequent since 2011, affecting plant growth cycles and threatening bee populations.

"When it is cold and the weather is bad, the bee queens would lay fewer eggs, and the bee families would get smaller. Therefore, there would be fewer bees that go out to collect pollen to make honey. Sometimes, they would even stop laying eggs," said Carpinteri.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the global average surface temperature from January to September this year was about 1.54 degrees Celcuis higher than the pre-industrial average, making 2024 probably the hottest year on record.

Extreme weather conditions also damage bee plants, leading to the decline of flowers. As a result, some beekeepers have to resort to artificial feeding to sustain their hives, while others have to relocate in search of bee plants. All cause costs and uncertainty increase.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 91 out of the 107 major crops vital to human beings rely on bees for pollination. Without bees, about 40,000 plants will face difficulties in reproduction and potential extinction.

Climate change poses significant threats to bees and other pollinating insects, according to Simone Tosi, an assistant professor at the Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences of the University of Turin.

"Undoubtedly, the biggest impact of climate change on pollinators is the rise of temperature or the change in temperatures, because it will cause the plant community to change. On the other hand, pollinators are closely linked to the climate of the environment and the weather. If these factors change dramatically, it will certainly impact their ability to survive and behave in a certain environment," said Tosi.

Climate change hits Italy's beekeeping industry hard

Climate change hits Italy's beekeeping industry hard

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests