Description

Bees and other pollinators are very important for people’s lives, especially in terms of sustainable agricultural production, ensuring food security and preventing hunger in the world. As much as a third of food produced in the world depends on pollination, a large share of which is provided specifically by bees through their concerted gathering of pollen. Moreover, as pollinators bees are important for maintaining biodiversity and preserving the environment.

Beekeeping has an exceptionally long tradition in Slovenia as a branch of farming. Indeed the beginning of modern beekeeping is attributed to the Slovenian Anton Janša (1734–1773). Slovenia is also the only Member State of the European Union to have a protected native sub-species of bee (Carniolan grey or Apis mellifera carnica), meaning that no other breeds of bee may be raised in Slovenia. Owing to the great importance of beekeeping in Slovenia, and in order to raise awareness internationally about the importance of bees and other pollinators and their products, the Slovenian Beekeeping Association, supported by the Republic of Slovenia, submitted an initiative to the United Nations to declare 20 May, the birthday of Anton Janša, World Bee Day.

In honour of World Bee Day, which will be marked for the first time based on the Slovenian initiative, Slovenia is issuing a commemorative coin.