Hundreds of trucks, vans, and private cars rolled this morning from Quart de Poblet toward Valencia’s Ministry of Agriculture. The protest aimed to press the Generalitat to prevent beekeeping from fading away and to secure real support for the sector, as reported by EFE. The convoy, described as a beekeeping mobilization, disrupted traffic around Avenida del Cid and the 9 October Administrative City, where the Agriculture Ministry is headquartered.
Member associations and groups tied to beekeeping in the Valencian Community participated in the demonstration. La Unió de Llauradors i Ramadersa, AVA-ASAJA, Asaja Alicante, UPA-PV, CCPV-COAG, ApiAds, La Osa, Arva, and APAC joined in condemning what they viewed as a renewed protest against the state of the Ministry of Agriculture and what they called a lack of adequate response to the industry’s needs.
Beekeeping leaders lamented that the sector is stalled in a struggle that stretches back more than ten years. They cited climate change and the disease varroa as major threats, with Pascual del Valle, head of the beekeeping division at AVA-ASAJA, noting the harsh impact on bee populations and the livelihoods dependent on them.
Del Valle explained that the average production cost for beekeepers runs about four euros per unit, while honey buyers are typically paying around 3.20 euros per kilo. He also highlighted a limitation on placing hives near orange blossom trees, adding to the financial strain already faced by producers.
Even with a generally reduced national output, some beekeepers point to competition from imported honey, including products labeled as looser, originating from China, as a factor depressing prices for locally produced honey.
The industry warns that beekeeping is at risk of dying out in the Valencian Community unless the regional administration provides genuine support rather than mere gestures. They argue that the area has historically offered the least assistance to beekeepers among the regions, and they demand policies that reflect the sector’s needs rather than symbolic measures.
Protestors called for agricultural environmental aid aligned with biodiversity goals, a direct subsidy of 25 euros per every hive, and rejection of the Consell de la pinyolà agreement, which they see as insufficient or poorly aligned with beekeeping realities.
Critics also protested the exclusion of transhumance beekeeping from discounted diesel rates for professionals and argued that a regional plan for beekeeping has been neglected for two years, with its provisions never fully applied.
During the march to the Ministry of Agriculture, a beekeeper from Bejís in Castellón poured honey on his body as a visible symbol of his willingness to sacrifice production costs to keep honey on the market and available to consumers. The act drew attention to the price paid by the public for honey and the broader consequences for beekeeping livelihoods.
Demonstrators displayed banners with messages comparing their role to the air they produce, underscoring that beekeepers feel among the most underappreciated in Spain and urging authorities not to let bees disappear, for the sake of the environment.
Participants planned to extend the demonstration by circling the administrative complex and heading toward the Valencia Courts before ultimately returning to the Ministry of Agriculture, signaling a sustained demand for policy changes and financial support that beekeepers say are essential to their survival.