Beekeeping in Denmark –Current status and

environmental challenges

Ole KilpinenDanish Beekeepers Association

Estimated (2016)

• 7,100 beekeepers

• 115,000 honeybeecolonies

• 2.5 colonies/km2

The Danish Agicultural Agency

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Win

ter

loss

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Wei

ght

chan

ge (

kg)

2017

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Wei

ght

chan

ge (

kg)

2016

Kiljanek et al. 2016

How to see poisoning of a honeybee colony

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency

Residues in honey

• Insecticides, herbicidesfungicides carried back to the hive

• Pesticide registrationshould include sub-lethaleffects and risk of residues in honey

• What about wild bees?

Aethina tumida

Per Kryger, Aarhus University

Vespa velutina

• Competition possible in some areas

• Lack of food sources

• We need good, solid empirical data, please!

• Honeybees are very important pollinators

Thank you for your attention