Prolonged drought and heat waves in Hungary have almost completely destroyed natural sources of nectar and pollen. According to Euronews, the National Hungarian Beekeeping Association warns that the lack of food and water has affected up to 80% of the country's bee population, with even typically moist areas and riverbanks drying up.

Pollen is a key source of protein for bees. Without it, honey production decreases, young bees weaken and starvation sets in. The increased effort required to find water also exhausts the bees, leading to premature death or attacks between colonies.

According to beekeepers, this situation poses a direct threat to the survival of bee colonies during the winter and to yields in 2027.

The association has therefore sent a letter to Minister of Agriculture Szabolcs Bona. It is asking the authorities not to penalize beekeepers for failing to meet mandatory colony quotas, since the impending losses will be caused by extreme weather fluctuations and a critical shortage of natural resources, factors beyond the beekeepers' control.

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