Rebuilding the peninsula with 47 million Iberian honey bees is the bold aim of a Spain-based project designed to counter the native Iberian honey bee’s decline and protect the surrounding ecosystems. This effort centers on Apis mellifera iberiensis, the Iberian bee, whose survival is critical to local biodiversity and agricultural balance across the Mediterranean climate zones.
The Smart Green Bees initiative was unveiled by LG in partnership with El Rincón de la Abeja, an organization that collaborates with artisanal beekeepers across Spain, including communities in Malaga, Valencia, and Barcelona. The project seeks to blend cutting-edge technology with traditional beekeeping to support a pollinator-friendly landscape and healthier hive populations.
The Iberian bee stands as the Peninsula’s sole native honey bee. Yet its numbers have fallen sharply due to drought, disease pressures, and economic challenges facing beekeepers who find the species less productive for honey than some other breeds. These pressures threaten not only honey production but also the ecosystem services bees provide, such as pollination for native plants and crops.
One bee per person
The initiative aims to extend its reach across Spain, introducing up to 47 million new bees over two years. The plan is framed as one new bee for every inhabitant, a provocative way to illustrate the scale of the effort, according to Paola Vecino, president of El Rincón de la Abeja, speaking to Efe. This expansion envisions deploying bees where the habitat and resources can sustain them best, with careful planning to maximize ecological benefits.
Teams have selected sites that offer suitable conditions for sustaining large numbers of bees. In a Málaga farm within the Montes de Málaga Natural Park, a beekeeper’s outfit symbolizes the project’s hands-on, practical ethos. The site is viewed as an example of sustainable beekeeping that also contributes to the surrounding ecosystem by supporting plant and animal life in the park’s protected environment.
artisan beekeeper José Sebastián Sánchez, founder of Mieles Joseíllo and a collaborator on the initiative, notes that the region’s flower availability aligns with the project’s needs. His long-standing company embodies sustainable production, a key pillar of the effort to ensure the hive numbers match the local floral resources and seasonal blooms.
Just a short drive from Málaga’s city center, the landscape features a range of flora—sage, gorse, rock rose, and cantahueso—that thrive in the mountain climate, creating ideal forage for bees through much of the year. The region’s biodiversity supports not only the honey yield but also the resilience of the pollinator population.
On this farm, where goats, dogs, and chickens share the space, 14 hives have been installed so far, with expectations to reach about 45 by year-end. The rollout reflects a careful balance between rapid expansion and ecological stewardship, driven by the belief that thriving colonies contribute to the broader health of the habitat.
In the initial phase, each new hive can host between 5,000 and 6,000 bees. Over time, as forage and climate conditions permit, colonies may grow to as many as 60,000 workers. The expansion typically accelerates during spring and summer when nectar and pollen are most abundant, providing the energy needed for population growth and hive development.
Beekeeping is not a purely mathematical exercise. Numerous factors—including disease pressures, environmental stressors, and unpredictable events—can influence hive survival. Project supporters acknowledge that initial population goals may need adjustment as they respond to real-world challenges. The aim remains to establish robust bee populations while safeguarding ecosystem balance across communities involved in the program.
For example, wild boar activity in some areas poses a risk to hives. To address these uncertainties, organizers sometimes overestimate the number of swarms needed to ensure that the 47 million-bee target remains attainable despite potential losses from natural causes. The strategy emphasizes resilience and adaptive planning rather than rigid quotas.
Biometric tracking systems
Malaga’s hives incorporate biometric monitoring that does not interfere with colony growth yet provides a clear view of population dynamics. This technology tracks metrics such as weight, internal humidity, temperature, and even the acoustic signals of bee activity to assess hive health in real time.
LG reports that each of the fifteen Malagan hives contains roughly 15,000 bees, with numbers expected to rise as the surrounding flora blooms and the province’s favorable climate delivers ample sunshine. The region enjoys a climate that supports nearly year-round activity, with about 300 sunny days annually, enabling effective, non-intrusive care of the hives.
The Iberian bee has distinctive morphological traits. Apis mellifera iberiensis is typically darker, features a shorter but stronger tongue, and shows less pronounced striping. Its temperament can be more irritable and defensive compared with some other European honey bees, a factor that influences hive management strategies and safety considerations for beekeepers.
The campaign is also extending to other Spanish locations, including Montroi in the Valencia Region and Sant Climent de Llobregat in Catalonia, widening the geographic footprint of this ecological restoration effort and inviting more communities to participate in pollinator-friendly farming practices.
Future updates from the project will continue to emphasize environmental stewardship, local partnerships, and scalable methods for restoring native bee populations while supporting sustainable agriculture across Spain. This initiative is being followed by researchers and policymakers who are attentive to ecological outcomes, agricultural productivity, and the long-term health of pollinator networks. Citations: Official project updates and regional ecological assessments provide ongoing context for the initiative and its impact on biodiversity and agricultural resilience.