The Bee Pasefika Congress 2025 was officially opened on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, at the Orator Hotel in Samoa, with an inspiring keynote address delivered by Hon. Niu’ava Eti Malolo, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
In his address to a diverse audience of beekeepers, researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from across the Pacific, Hon. Malolo described the Congress as a landmark event for the region, highlighting its commitment to the protection, sustainability, and advancement of apiculture.
The Minister expressed deep gratitude to the Samoa Farmers Association (SFA) and its partners—Pacific Islands Farmers Organization Network (PIFON), Samoa Apiculture Organisation (SAO), Women in Business Development Inc. (WIBDI), and the Fiji Beekeepers Association—for their collaboration in organising the Congress.
“This Congress represents the shared vision of our region’s apiculture community,” Hon. Malolo said, underscoring its importance as a platform to strengthen connections, exchange knowledge, and recommit to protecting honey bees, which he described as “industrious pollinators critical to the life of our ecosystems, food security, and economic resilience.”
Reflecting on the resilience of Samoa’s apiculture sector, the Minister shared statistics from the 2021 Agriculture Census, which recorded 219 active beehives across the islands. While these numbers demonstrate the persistence of beekeepers, Hon. Malolo acknowledged the challenges posed by the Bee and Bee Products Prohibition Order 1999, which protects Samoa from the threat of exotic diseases, as well as the impacts of climate change, disease outbreaks, and limited resources.
Despite these challenges, Hon. Malolo highlighted the sector’s progress, crediting the efforts of local beekeepers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), and key organisations like SAO. He announced that the Government of Samoa will intensify its support for apiculture by strengthening policies, enhancing support for beekeepers, and launching initiatives to protect and expand honey bee habitats.
“The future of the Pacific’s apiculture depends on the actions we take today,” Hon. Malolo declared, urging attendees to embrace sustainable practices, empower beekeeping communities, and advocate for the preservation of ecosystems.
The Minister closed his address with an optimistic call to action: “Let us harness the power of the hive and use it to build resilient communities, thriving economies, and a flourishing Pacific. When the bees thrive, so do we.”
The opening of the Bee Pasefika Congress 2025 marked a significant moment for the region’s apiculture industry, setting the stage for productive discussions and collaborative efforts toward a sustainable and resilient future.
