BeeBridge reports identify shared training needs across six countries
With NATURELDER's contribution from Türkiye, the State-of-the-Art analysis brings together strengths and development needs in beekeeping education. The Türkiye report is available in Turkish and English, alongside the transnational report.
The Erasmus+ KA220-VET BeeBridge project has produced State-of-the-Art reports examining beekeeping practices and vocational training needs across six partner countries. As NATURELDER, we contributed to this shared work by preparing the national report for Türkiye. Our Polish partner ARID compared the national findings and brought them together in a transnational report.
Covering Poland, Spain, Czechia, Lithuania, Estonia and Türkiye, the study was carried out under WP2 — Audiovisual Training Content. Its purpose was to consider experienced beekeepers’ knowledge alongside the learning needs of younger generations and establish a shared basis for developing BeeBridge’s training resources.
How were training needs examined?
The study draws on desk research and document review carried out using a common methodology. Partners examined existing curricula, institutional publications, sector reports, guides and outputs from previous projects, before comparing findings across countries.
The review covered efficient beekeeping techniques and bee health, alongside marketing, product diversification, Beekeeping 4.0, climate change, colony losses, apitherapy-related training approaches and existing educational initiatives. The findings reflect the scope of the sources reviewed.
What does the joint analysis highlight?
The transnational report identifies strong technical knowledge of colony management, seasonal work and disease control. It highlights five areas where this foundation can be developed to meet emerging needs:
- Using digital data: Incorporating skills for interpreting hive-monitoring data and using it in daily management decisions more systematically into training.
- Entrepreneurship and marketing: Complementing production knowledge with cost calculation, pricing, branding and digital marketing skills.
- Product diversification: Connecting technical knowledge of different hive products with product planning and market access skills.
- Climate adaptation: Supporting climate awareness with practical planning skills for drought, changing flowering periods and seasonal uncertainty.
- Learning between generations: Sharing experienced beekeepers’ knowledge through mentoring, mutual learning and the documentation of practical experience.
NATURELDER’s contribution from Türkiye
We prepared Türkiye’s national State-of-the-Art report and shared it with our project partners on 14 February 2026. This brought an assessment of Türkiye’s training programmes and sector needs into the joint analysis.
The Türkiye report finds that the reviewed training programmes provide a strong foundation in colony management, production and disease prevention. It also identifies a need to develop digital skills, marketing and climate adaptation through clearer learning outcomes and practical content within these programmes. This assessment is based on the programmes and documents examined in the report.
Findings will guide the training resources
The study will inform updated training modules, videos and other audiovisual resources, the sharing of expert experience, and the development of a model educational apiary for practical learning.
Through our contribution from Türkiye, NATURELDER supports beekeeping education that connects traditional experience with digital skills, entrepreneurship and climate adaptation. Findings from the six countries will help us develop resources together for beekeepers with different levels of experience.
Read the reports
- Transnational State-of-the-Art Report — English, PDF
- Türkiye State-of-the-Art Report — Turkish, PDF
- Türkiye State-of-the-Art Report — English, PDF
You can also find these documents in the BeeBridge project outputs.