Malta Came to Norway!!

SICAMM was thrilled to welcome the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee to our biannual conference, held in the picturesque city of Stavanger, Norway, from 27th to 30th March 2025. This year’s event was particularly special, marking SICAMM’s 30th anniversary and celebrating our ongoing commitment to the conservation of the European Dark Bee, Apis mellifera mellifera.

The Maltese delegation, comprising KNM administrators Dylan Farrugia and Neil Cutajar, along with supporter Jorge Spiteri, brought a unique perspective to our conference. We were honoured to have KNM President Dylan Farrugia deliver a plenary speech titled “The Maltese Bee: Perspectives from a Mediterranean Perspective.”

Farrugia’s engaging 40-minute talk highlighted the intrinsic value of endemic honey bee subspecies and the shared challenges they face, including hybridisation, invasive alien species, pests, pathogens, and climate change. He emphasised the critical need for international collaboration to ensure sustainable local beekeeping, protect biodiversity, and preserve our cultural connections with honey bees.

SICAMM, founded in 1994, is dedicated to conserving and promoting the European Dark Bee. We connect and support national and local groups across Europe, organising biennial conferences to foster collaboration among beekeepers, scientists, and policymakers. Our organisation raises awareness about the importance of dedicated conservation areas and supports scientific research and practical efforts to protect this valuable bee subspecies.

We are proud to have hosted the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee as the first NGO from outside the native range of Apis mellifera mellifera to speak at our conference. This historic moment underscored the importance of global cooperation in bee conservation. The four-day event provided an excellent platform for exchanging ideas, building networks, and collaborating with international beekeepers, researchers, and conservationists.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee for their participation and to all our speakers and attendees for their continued dedication to protecting native honey bee populations. Together, we can make a significant impact on the conservation of these vital pollinators.