Bringing together researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts from around the globe to advance the vital field of stingless beekeeping, also known as meliponiculture, the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) successfully commenced the first day of its 2025 International Symposium on Stingless Bees (ISSB) today, June 10, 2025, at the Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City.
Led by CBSUA’s Regional Apiculture Center (RAC), the three-day symposium is themed “The Buzz of Stingless Bee Resilience: Global Sustainability Goals and Codex Standard for Pot-Honey.” It aims to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and address global challenges and trends in stingless bee research and innovation.
“CBSUA takes immense pride in leading this significant gathering of scientists, practitioners, and advocates from across the globe,” stated Dr. Alberto N. Naperi, President of CBSUA. “Hosting ISSB 2025 is both a recognition of our institution’s contributions and an opportunity to deepen international collaboration in the fields of apiculture and biodiversity conservation. We remain committed to our mission of addressing global challenges.”
The event runs from June 10-12, 2025. The first two days are hosted at the Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City, concluding on June 12 at the Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) in Daet, Camarines Norte.
The symposium is made possible by the support of esteemed local and international partners, including the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office V (DA-RFO V), the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), DA-Bureau of Animal Industry, Universidad de los Andes (ULA) in Venezuela, the Local Government Unit of the Province of Camarines Norte, CNSC, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Benguet State University (BSU), Catanduanes State University (CatSU), Cavite State University (CvSU), Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), Grajo’s Beeyond Ventures, Beekeepers’ Association of Camarines Norte, International Bee Research Association, National Apiculture Research, Training And Development Institute, Universitas Warmadewa Indonesia, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
“This remarkable event showcases an outstanding blend of multidisciplinary perspectives and inclusive outreach—seamlessly integrating science and technology, senior and young researchers, academics, and producers,” commented Prof. Patricia Vit, Founder of ISSB from ULA, Venezuela. She emphasized, “International collaboration is essential to achieve these goals, and bees inspire us all to work together.”
Dr. Elsa A. Parot, Regional Director of DA-ATI representing Hon. Rodel P. Tornilla, Regional Executive Director of the DA- RFO V, Philippines, underscored the gathering’s significance: “This is a welcome opportunity for bee farmers to learn in the knowledge exchange, be updated on current local and global trends and innovations, and establish a wider network and lasting collaboration.”
During the opening program, Dr. Amelia R. Nicolas, 2025 ISSB Chairman and General Director of the Route of Living Museums of Stingless Bees in the World (RUTA-MELI) showcased an overview of the RUTA-MELI project as a global online platform for stingless bee and meliponary information. This was followed by the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement and a Signature Wall, manifesting support from partners and participants for the RUTA-MELI project and the CBSUA RAC’s Start-Up Launch of Stingless Bee By-Products headed by Assoc Prof. Lilia C. Pasiona, event co-chairman and Center Director. The enthusiasm for the discussions on meliponitourism and the upcoming launching showed the participants’ entrepreneurial spirit and forward-thinking approach.
The afternoon session of the symposium featured lectures by local and international stingless bee experts, attracting researchers, farmers, and enthusiasts. International speakers included Dr. Giorgio Venturieri of Nativo Bees and Mr. Dean Haley of Australian Native Bee from Australia, Dr. Bajaree Chuttong of Chiang Mai University from Thailand, Prof. Patricia Vit of ULA from Venezuela, and Prof. Wan Iryani Wan Ismail of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu from Malaysia. Local experts included Prof. Cleofas R. Cervancia of the UPLB’s Bee Program and Assoc. Prof. Michele T. Bono of CvSU Bee Program. The presentations covered diverse topics such as the rational keeping of native stingless bees, ISO documentation and standardization of honey, business aspects of stingless bee culture, the roadmap to international Codex standards for pot-honey, and community-based beekeeping programs. Additionally, the symposium provided extensive networking opportunities in an open forum where the resource speakers answered the questions from the participants.
One of the event’s highlights was the exhibit of stingless bee programs from both the academe and private sectors. Exhibitors included CBSUA RAC, UPLB Bee Program, CvSU Bee Research, Innovation, Trade, and Extension (BRITE) Center, USM Brainey Sdn Bhd Company, BSU Cordillera Regional Apiculture Center, Hardin sa Parang from San Mateo, Rizal, Grajo’s Beeyond Ventures from Sorsogon, Beekeeper’s Association of Camarines Norte, Nelly’s Garden and Bee Farm and Albay TFC from Albay, and Pia’s Bee Farm from Lipa City, Batangas. They showcased a wide variety of bee-based products such as stingless honey, wild honey, stingless pollen extract, artisanal food products, wine, propolis lip balm and spray, and many more. Furthermore, the interactive honey-tasting sessions allowed the participants to conduct sensory evaluations of various pot-honeys.
Mr. Roberto R. Bañadera, a member of the Pili Union of Stingless Bee Farm Owners (PUSO), expressed his gratitude towards CBSUA for organizing the symposium: “As a starting stingless bee farmer, I am grateful to the CBSUA and the other partners for organizing this event. This is just the first day, but I gained new knowledge from the lectures and was able to network with local and international stingless bee researchers, farm owners, and experts. These insights and good practices I have learned, I will personally use and apply when I go back to my farm.”
Looking ahead, day two of the symposium will include interactive lecture sessions with experts from Malaysia, Singapore, Tanzania, Indonesia, Venezuela, Thailand, China, Mexico, and the Philippines; and an awarding ceremony for young researchers. Then for day three, the symposium will be in CNSC for the continuation of the lectures, where participants will engage in workshops and a farm tour to Earth Farm in San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte for a firsthand look at meliponiculture practices.
The successful commencement of the 2025 ISSB emphasizes CBSUA’s commitment to advancing meliponiculture and fostering global collaboration. Bringing together diverse stakeholders and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and innovative practices, the symposium plays a crucial role in building resilience in stingless bee populations and promoting sustainable beekeeping for the benefit of biodiversity, local economies, and global sustainability goals.
