Innovative solutions based on technology that will increase efficiency in honey production were discussed at the “Beekeeping and Technology” seminar held at Near East University.
Near East University Faculty of Agriculture, which cooperated with the Italian Sustainable Plant Protection Institute to protect the native bee race of Cyprus, brought together beekeepers in the TRNC at the “Beekeeping and Technology” seminar. At the seminar organized with the participation of the Northern Cyprus Beekeepers Association and many beekeepers operating in the TRNC, innovative solutions based on technology that will increase efficiency in honey production were discussed.
At the seminar, where the Founding President of the Northern Cyprus Beekeepers Association, Emin Bahçıvan, and the President of the Northern Cyprus Beekeepers Association, Hasan Kozok, attended as invited speakers, Near East University Faculty of Agriculture Dean Prof. Dr. Özge Özden and Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Salih Gücel and Dr. İlker Gelişen made a presentation. Director of the Near East University Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Institute, Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman also followed the seminar and expressed his views on how artificial intelligence can be used to increase productivity.
Increasing efficiency in beekeeping is only possible with scientific methods!
Speaking as a guest speaker at the seminar, Emin Bahçivan, Founding President of the Northern Cyprus Beekeepers Association, gave information about beekeeping and honey production in the TRNC. Stating that Cyprus honey has won first place in many international competitions with its quality, Bahçivan said, “Since we have difficulty in meeting the honey consumption in our country with domestic production, we sometimes import honey even if we do not want to. We must increase the number of bees and beekeepers in the country. We can increase the number of beehives in the country from 22 thousand to 40 thousand. Then our production will increase significantly. This is our biggest goal.”
Speaking at the seminar, Hasan Kozok, President of the Northern Cyprus Beekeepers Association, stated that they are struggling with various difficulties to increase efficiency in bee breeding and honey production, and emphasized that productivity increase can only be achieved through scientific methods. Emphasizing the need for legal regulations regarding quality standards in honey produced or imported in the country, Kozok said, “We can only determine quality standards and increase production efficiency with scientific guidance.”
Studies are continuing to identify the native bee race of Cyprus
Making a presentation titled “History of Beekeeping in Cyprus” at the seminar, Near East University Faculty of Agriculture Dean Prof. Dr. Özge Özden stated that the first honey production on the island was made in the 1800s and that there were 500 thousand beehives at that time, based on written sources of the period. Prof. Dr. Özden also gave information about bee races in the country and said, “We see that the local bee race is hybridizing due to queen bees brought from abroad. With the studies we carry out, we primarily aim to determine the pure local breed.” Emphasizing that bees are very important not only for honey production, but also for climate diversity, biodiversity and sustainability, Prof. Dr. Özden, on the other hand, said that honey production figures and efficiency can be increased much higher.
Making a presentation about bee products, Near East University Faculty of Agriculture Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Salih Gücel shared the results of their research on productivity components. Emphasizing that they want to work in cooperation with all stakeholders regarding the native bees in the country, Prof. Dr. Gücel said, “We aim to create a comprehensive database from past to present within the scope of efforts to improve the native bee race.”
The efficiency of the beehives will be monitored with artificial intelligence support
Assist. Prof. Dr. İlker Gelişen from Near East University made a presentation titled “Hive Monitoring Systems” at the seminar, explained in detail why monitoring beehives is important and said that they are working to determine the effects of monitoring movement, stress, sound, temperature and humidity in the beehive on honey production. Gelişen said, “We aim to provide suitable conditions that will increase productivity with the beehive tracking system we will create with the support of artificial intelligence.”
