By Brandon Moss

Tanzania has lost the hosting rights for the 50th International Apicultural Congress (Apimondia 2027), a global event that was expected to transform the country’s beekeeping industry and inject millions into its economy. Originally scheduled for September 20–25, 2027 in Arusha, the congress will now be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after Apimondia’s Executive Council deemed Tanzania’s facilities unfit to accommodate the projected 7,000 delegates.

Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, convenes every two years to bring together scientists, honey producers, traders, and policymakers to advance sustainable practices in apiculture. Tanzania had secured hosting rights at the 2023 congress in Chile, defeating the UAE in a symbolic victory that was set to mark Africa’s return to the global apiculture stage after nearly three decades. The last time the continent hosted was in 2001, when South Africa welcomed the congress.

The reversal has left Africa’s beekeeping community deeply disappointed. Apimondia President Dr. Jeff Pettis confirmed that while Tanzania’s 2023 Letter of Agreement had been binding, the host country was required to demonstrate readiness by mid-2025. “After thorough evaluation, it was concluded that Tanzania could not meet the objectives, and the 2027 congress will be hosted by the UAE Beekeepers’ Foundation, the runner-up in the 2023 election,” Pettis said.

Apimondia’s Africa Regional Committee President, David Mukomana, described the decision as a lost moment for the continent. “It was a rare chance for Africa to host a major global event of this scale,” he said. “Observers are asking how such a landmark congress could shift from one of the world’s most biodiverse forest regions in East Africa to the arid deserts of the UAE.”

Local Preparations and Lost Opportunities

The disappointment is especially acute in Arusha, where preparations were already underway. Local authorities, led by former mayor Maximilian Iraghe and the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), had mobilized a youth-driven beekeeping initiative that established over two million beehives across northern Tanzania. Nearly 120,000 young people were engaged in the program, which was designed to serve as a showcase for visiting experts and highlight Tanzania’s growing apiculture capacity.

Beyond prestige, Tanzania had planned to use Apimondia 2027 as a platform to position itself as Africa’s hub for sustainable beekeeping. The congress was expected to launch a “youth-in-apiculture” agenda linking climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and green enterprise. Beekeeping already supports thousands of smallholder farmers in Tanzania and plays a vital role in forest conservation and rural development.

Tanzania’s Apiculture Potential

According to official data, Tanzania is home to about 9.2 million bee colonies, making it one of Africa’s richest ecosystems for pollinators and the continent’s second-largest honey producer after Ethiopia. The country produces around 35,000 tonnes of honey annually, though experts estimate production could reach 135,000 tonnes if fully optimized. TFS manages 20 protected bee reserves covering nearly 40,000 hectares, providing critical habitat for wild pollinators and supporting biodiversity essential to agriculture and forestry.

The economic potential is significant. Global demand for organic honey and beeswax continues to rise, driven by consumer shifts toward natural food and cosmetic products. Africa accounts for roughly 15 percent of global honey production, yet remains underexploited as a frontier for sustainable apiculture. Tanzania’s honey exports, though modest, are gaining traction in regional markets such as Kenya and the Gulf States. Hosting Apimondia would have catalyzed international investment, connected producers with premium buyers, and placed East Africa firmly on the global map for eco-based trade.

Lessons for the Future

Local stakeholders see the relocation as a wake-up call. “Hosting Apimondia 2027 would have solidified Tanzania’s place in the global beekeeping community and showcased our potential as an investment destination,” said Arusha-based beekeeper and industry advocate Emmanuel Mgimwa. “The government must take these lessons seriously and ensure future bids are matched by timely, tangible readiness.”

Despite the setback, experts argue that Tanzania’s apiculture sector remains an untapped frontier aligned with climate resilience, rural employment, and environmental sustainability. Beekeeping offers a rare intersection where livelihoods, biodiversity, and climate action converge. Each hive not only produces honey but also enhances crop pollination and forest regeneration, creating a natural buffer against climate change.

Across East Africa, similar initiatives are gaining ground. In Kenya’s Baringo and Kitui counties, community cooperatives are using beekeeping to restore degraded landscapes while boosting household incomes. These examples highlight the potential of apiculture as a driver of both ecological restoration and economic empowerment.

Looking Ahead
For Tanzania, the loss of Apimondia 2027 is more than a missed event — it is a reminder that global competitiveness in sustainability sectors depends on infrastructure, policy coordination, and long-term planning. Yet the foundations remain strong. With vast forest cover, rich flora, and growing youth engagement, Tanzania retains one of the most promising apiculture sectors on the continent.

The challenge now is to translate biological wealth into structured economic opportunity and ensure that Africa’s next bid for global hosting rights reflects the readiness and ambition that its beekeepers have long demonstrated in the field.

Tags: Tanzania, apiculture, honey, beekeeping, Africa