The 46th Apimondia International Apicultural Congress is one of the world's leading beekeeping events, attended annually by 6,000 participants from over 134 countries. Dozens of conferences, workshops and symposia took place during the fair, as well as the World Beekeeping Award competition, which was also attended by two Czech companies.

Beekeeping is a sector that largely depends on farmers. Farmers grow various crops and in some cases use products that can pose a threat to bees. As farmers need bees to pollinate their plants, good cooperation between farmers and beekeepers is essential. That is why this year's theme of the congress was: “Working together in agriculture”.

Within the Czech delegation, accompanied by the representative of the Czech Ministry of Agriculture, six companies presented their products and innovations at the Czech pavilion - Thermosolar Hive, Forsage, S&R, CH KOVO, Ru-Ka (Zatepleneuly.cz), Biology center CAS and Microbiology institute CAS (ALGATECH Center). The aim of the Czech participation was to introduce the Czech apiculture industry in Canada and at one of the most important events of its kind, in order to create new links between Czech and Canadian companies. Czech companies presented themselves at the fair with innovative products and technologies (e.g. thermo-solar hive and SW for remote colony monitoring), which were of great interest from Canadian and other foreign partners.

The Czech beekeeping community was represented by an incredible number of 42 registered participants, including beekeepers, associations and researchers.

The networking reception for the Czech companies and their partners was held by the new Czech Ambassador to Canada Borek Lizec, at the premises of the Honorary Consulate in Montreal. The reception was attended by Canadian partners from the Canadian Honey Council, which is responsible for 10 thousand beekeepers across Canada.

In the framework of R&D and protection against bee diseases (e.g. varroa mite) the participation of Ph.D. S. Pernal from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and other representatives from the beekeeping sector (International Center for Young Beekepers, Sweetheart Pollinators, Czech Beekeeping Association, Beekeeping Research Institute, Faculty of Science of University of South Bohemia and Faculty of Science of Palacky University in Olomouc) was very essential at the networking event.

Beekeeping may seem marginal, however, is of indisputable importance to the whole ecosystem, mainly because of the ability of bees to pollinate plants. The income from bee farming within the EU was estimated at EUR 14.2 billion per year (CZK 368.7 billion), 84 percent of plant species and 76 percent of food production are entirely dependent on bee pollination.

The Czech presence at the Apimondia has successfully strengthened the knowledge of the Czech beekeeping sector. Czech companies have proven that they are able to compete with their innovative technologies even in a global environment, despite coming from a rather smaller market compared to Canada.