The biggest event in the history of beekeeping

From September 29^th to October 3^rd in Kyiv took place the XXXXIII International Apimondia Congress.

During the Congress the International Exhibition Center received over 8000 delegates from more than 100 countries worldwide.

From September 29^th to October 3^rd in Kyiv in the premises of International Exhibition Centre took place the XXXXIII International Apimondia Congress. Apimondia Congresses are world’s key events in the field of beekeeping and the oldest industry forums globally. They are held in different countries every 2 years, starting from 1895. In September 2009 at the XXXXI Apimondia Congress in Montpellier activists of "Brotherhood of Ukrainian Beekeepers" and "Union of Beekeepers of Ukraine" NGOs won the right to host the XXXXIII International Apimondia Congress in our country. 

^{Dr. Leonid Bondarchuk, Mr. Gilles Ratia and Ms. Tetyana Vasylkivska at the Congress Opening Ceremony}

During the Congress the International Exhibition Center received over 8000 delegates from more than 100 countries worldwide. The most numerous delegations represented South Korea, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, China, Brazil and Turkey.

^{Italian delegation before the elections of the XXXXV Apimondia Congress host country}

For the first time in history of Apimondia more than 200 delegates from the African continent were able to participate in the Congress. Thanks to the successful cooperation of the Organizing Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine a record number of visas for foreign nationals wishing to visit the Congress were granted in a short time under the simplified procedure - resulting in about 700 extra participants taking part in the global apicultural forum.

^{The Prokopovych Hall}

The scale of the Congress’s scientific program "Beyond the Hive: Beekeeping and Global Challenges" was really impressive. It wasattended by more than 1,000 scientists from 85 countries. Because of the huge interest to the scientific program of the XXXXIII International Apimondia Congress, it was decided to increase the number of symposia in every scientific commission. Thus, the scientific program consisted of 7 plenary, 20 sectional sessions and 6 round tables on topical issues of beekeeping.

^{Heads of Apimondia Scientific Commissions: Dr. Karl Crailsheim (Bee Biology), Mr. Etienne Bruneau (Beekeeping Technology), Dr. Wolfgang Ritter (Bee Health)}

The Organizing Committee has received 1200 abstracts, of which the heads of the Scientific Commissions of Apimondia and Ukraine have chosen 340 reports. Scientists from Ukraine have submitted more than 100 scientific abstracts, 32 of them were reviewed and included in the scientific program with a presentation and publication in the conference abstract book. The world-renowned scientists, authors of outstanding books on social behavior, psychology and ecology of bees, Robert E. Page and Thomas D. Seeley participated in scientific meetings as keynote speakers.

^{Scientific session in Root hall}

Organizing Committee of the Congress has initiated drafting the resolution of the Congress that will reflect the conclusions of the scientific conference. This resolution will be sent to the UN and the governments of the Apimondia member countries. The work on the resolution continues under the supervision of Apimondia president Gilles Ratia.

^{The President of the Apimondia Federation Mr. Gilles Ratia}

The apicultural exhibition ApiEXPO 2013, held in the 10000 sq. m pavilion of the IEC, was by no doubt the most attended event of the Congress. More than 200 booths of international honey companies, representing wide range of bee products, beekeeping equipment, veterinary drugs, etc. were able to meet the needs of the most sophisticated visitor.

^{ApiExpo 2013}

The attention of all participants was focused on the honey contest World Beekeeping Awards 2013. The winners represent 34 countries. The participants were awarded with a total of 100 medals in 50 classes, of which 41 were gold, 31 - silver and 28 - bronze.

^{Margaret Davies - Judges Referee of the World Beekeeping Awards 2013}

Grand Prix: "For the best honey in the world”, and Carl and Virginia Webb Honey Bowl was received by a Cypriot entity Tziverti, represented by Mr. Dimitris Papakostas, Apimondia Silver Cup "For the best mead in the world" was received by a Slovak company Vcelco sro and its representative Mr. Radoslaw Opalek, "For the best range of beekeeping products" The Oak Shield of Sodruzhestvo was awarded to Ms. Aida Iskenova of the Kyrgyz Union of Beekeepers.

^{The winner of the Grand Prix “For the best honey in the world” Mr. Dimitris Papacostas (Cyprus)}

During the Congress more than 15 satellite events were organized by foreign delegations and international beekeeping organizations.

The Organizing Committee of the Congress has prepared a number of various social projects. Among them - "Innovative technologies in beekeeping" has demonstrated the latest developments and achievements of 40 professional Ukrainian beekeepers, 48 presentations of both Ukrainian and foreign experts took place.

^{The showcase of the World Beekeeping Awards 2013}

Honey fair "Apimondia open to the public" gave an opportunity to buy the best beekeeping products for citizens and guests of the capital. Screening of Marcus Imhoof’s documentary "More than Honey" supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine was a real gem of the Congress social program. "Modern art" has gathered Ukrainian artists and craftsmen in its spacious premises. Photo exhibition of the famous German photographers Heidi and Hans-Jurgen Koch “Bees – pollinators of the world” has attracted a lot of attention from the visitors.  "Apimondia for children" has combined exhibition-contest of children's drawings and a series of workshops for the youngest visitors of Congress. A separate thematic exhibition was devoted to the inventor of frame beehive Peter Ivanovich Prokopovych and other prominent figures of Ukrainian beekeeping. Honey bar made it possible to taste the honey from all over the world. There was also a "Beekeeping Fashion" show where clothing manufacturers from different countries demonstrated their new products.

^{Congress President Tetyana Vasylkivska near the fragment of thematic exhibition devoted to the frame hive inventor P. I. Prokopovych}

The “Honey Queen 2013”, held in three rounds, was won by the representative of the beekeepers Association of Turkey Ms. Bursu Daser.

^{World Honey Queen 2013 finalists}

"Ukrainian night" - the official reception of the Congress has brought together about 400 participants. The famous Golden Voice of Ukraine Nina Matvienko has performed for them during the reception.

^{Golden Voice og Ukraine Nina Matvienko}

The National Honoured Academic Dance Ensemble of Ukraine named after P. Virsky became a real star of the opening ceremony of the Congress hitting foreign visitors by its rousing choreography. At the Closing Ceremony of the Congress ensembles of Lugansk National Agrarian University have presented a diverse program. 

^{The National Honoured Academic Dance Ensemble of Ukraine named after P. Virsky - Gopak}

Travel tours to beekeeping and historical sites of Ukraine have enjoyed an incredible demand from foreign participants of the Congress. The Congress Official Travel partner Terra Incognita has sent more than 100 buses with touristic groups on a journey. The official touristic program of the XXXXIII International Apimondia Congress included 33 specialized tours. They were three pre-tours, ten one-day and two-day technical tours, four post-tours and specially organized tours for delegations from South Korea, USA, UK, Mexico, Iran, Turkey, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy, groups from Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, China, San Marino, Norway, and Chile. There were also daily tours around Kyiv. Overall, the tours were attended by about two thousand delegates and guests of the Congress.

Touristic and api-objects of Crimea, the "Honey fields" farm, V.I. Nagornyuk’s apiary in Khalepya village, "Pchelandiya" in Chudodiyevo, apiary of  Ilkiv A.I. in Bousk and api-objects of Transcarpathia were especially popular among the delegates. Participants also gave lots of positive feedback on the master class on beekeeping in Ore-Ivanovo. 

^{140 volunteers that worked at the Congress received lots of positive feedback from the participants}

The Organizing Committee expresses cordial gratitude to the sponsors, namely: Platinum Sponsor "Sodruzhestvo" (Ukraine), Gold Sponsor companies «Vita (Europe) Ltd» (UK) and Tentorium Apicompany (Russia) for their invaluable support in the process of preparation and conducting the XXXXIII International Apimondia Congress.

^{“Ukrainian night” – welcoming words from the representative of the Congress Platinum Sponsor Deputy Director General of Group of Companies “Sodruzhestvo” Mr. Olexiy Antonov}

During the Congress in Kyiv two Apimondia General Assemblies have been held.

^{Voting at the Apimondia General Assembly}

At the second Assembly, on October 3, heads of beekeeping associations of the world - members of Apimondia federation – have elected the country to host Apimondia Congress in 2017. The Beekeepers Association of Turkey has gained the victory.

^{Delegation of Turkey, the winner of the right to host the XXXXV Apimondia Congress – the triumph moment}

In the final part of the closing ceremony the President of the XXXXIII International Apimondia Congress Tatiana Vasylkivska has solemnly handed a 100-year-old Congress President collar to Mr. Kyoon-hwanCho, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the next, XXXXIV International Apimondia Congress that will be held in 2015 in Daejeon (South Korea).

^{The official handing of the Apimondia Collar from Ukraine to South Korea}

More photos From the Congress

Apimondia federation official website