The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) is gearing up to host the 2025 Rodolfo Palconitin International Symposium on Stingless Bees (2025 RP-ISSB) from June 10-12, 2025. Committee members convened on February 11, 2025, to begin preparations for the event.
The symposium, themed “The Buzz of Stingless Bee Resilience: Global Sustainability Goals and Codex Standard for Pot-Honey,” will bring together local and international stingless bee scientists, researchers, practitioners, beekeepers, enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and students. The event is organized by the CBSUA Regional Apiculture Center (RAC), headed by Director Lilia C. Pasiona, and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Professor Dr. Amelia R. Nicolas.
The 2025 RP-ISSB aims to promote scientific research and innovation by sharing recent advancements, research findings, and innovative practices on stingless bees, focusing on pot-honey quality improvement and standardization; create opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community stakeholders, and serve as a platform for discussing pressing global challenges and trends related to stingless bees.
CBSUA Vice President for Research and Innovation, Dr. Ramona Isabel S. Ramirez, emphasized the university’s esteemed reputation as a leading agricultural research institution in the Bicol Region, particularly its dedication to advancing agricultural education and research on stingless bees through the RAC. She stated that CBSUA, through the leadership of Director Pasiona, is a fitting venue for the symposium. “Hosting the event further reinforces the CBSUA RAC’s commitment to the development and preservation of meliponiculture, ultimately benefiting local communities and enhancing the agricultural sector,” Dr. Ramirez added.
The symposium will feature stingless bee scientists and experts from Australia, South America (Venezuela), Africa, and Asia (China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and the Philippines).
This year’s RP-ISSB is co-sponsored by several local and international universities: Universidad de Los Andes (ULA) (Venezuela), International Bee Research Association (IBRA) (United Kingdom), Universitas Warmadewa (Indonesia), University of the Philippines Los Baños, Cavite State University, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, and Benguet State University.
Support and co-sponsorship are also provided by various government agencies, including the National Apiculture Research Training and Development Institute, Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 5 (DA-RFO5), DA-Agricultural Training Institute 5, the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte, and the Local Government Unit of Labo in Camarines Norte; and the Grajp’s Farm.
