Reports of a rising interest in beekeeping in urban areas have been underlined by news that an apiculture association in Tyrol‘s biggest city welcomed 100 new members in the past 10 years.
Lukas Hangl heads the Association of Beekeepers Innsbruck. The Austrian apiarist said the organisation had counted 60 members in 2013.
Speaking to broadcaster ORF, Lukas revealed that the union currently consists of 160 beekeepers.
He emphasised: “It’s amazing that the young generation has entered the scene. We also welcome more and more women.”
Lukas claimed: “The stereotype that beekeepers are old men is outdated.”
Speaking about the activities of apiarists in the Innsbruck region, the association president said: “I think it’s fair to say that it hasn’t been the worst honey year in Tyrol.”
This statement comes as beekeepers in different parts of Austria have expressed concerns about a potential decline in honey volumes due to the wet and rainy conditions this spring.
Austrian apiarists were in charge of 456,000 honeybee colonies in the 2020/2021 business year, according to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
One colony of domesticated honeybees consists of 30,000 to 60,000 bees, according to the Canadian Honey Council.
Apiculture is most popular in the northeastern states of Upper Austria and Lower Austria. The vast majority of beekeepers in Austria are hobbyists.
