Study Validates Profitability of Organic Beekeeping Practices

A new study led by Penn State researchers and published in the Journal of Economic Entomology found that beekeepers adhering to organic management standards can earn profits comparable to those of beekeepers who use conventional management practices. In addition, this research found that beekeepers who use organic management practices over time can produce 50% more honey than those using conventional practices, as well as enjoying less pesticide exposure. Researchers compared three honey bee colony management systems — conventional, chemical-free and organic — over three years. They found the chemical-free system resulted in economic losses due to high costs and lower production, while operations using the conventional or organic system generated revenue. “Organic beekeeping is not chemical-free beekeeping, and it does not mean that you do not control any of the pests that you have in the colony,” notes professor Margarita López-Uribe. “On the contrary, it involves having a deep care for the welfare of the colony in such a way that if, for example, Varroa mite levels go above a certain threshold, you take an active role in controlling them.”
Related ATTRA podcast: Beekeeping Basics with Eric Fuchs-Stengel