Many of the beekeeping activities in developing countries in the past have been oriented towards honey production. Wax usually was a by-product and other possible products have rarely found consideration. Such neglect of other products has a variety of reasons among which an easily accessible market or the lack of knowledge about production and further use are of major importance. While production methods of other primary products can be adapted from common beekeeping texts, the further elaboration and use of the same products can rarely be found. If so, descriptions range from highly specific scientific results to self-proclaimed experts fraudulently exploiting consumer ignorance. In order to present a comprehensive and practical review this bulletin tries to synthesize available information from scientific literature and practical, technical literature including the few indepth reviews available on some of the primary bee products such as honey, Wax and propolis.
Brazil is the seventh largest producer and exporter of honey in the world (ANBA, 2005). This position was reached due to the quality and variety of the honey, mostly wild, and also to the space left open by China, which faced sales restrictions due to the use of pesticides in the production. With the return of the Chinese to the market, however, Brazil must go after new buyers so as to maintain foreign sales or add value to their products on the honey and wax manufacturing.
Jose Vilane, commercial director of Apilani, tells the innumerable fruits that his company harvested and the possibilities of the innovation as way to gain better markets. Dedicating the beekeeping to it initially as occupational therapy, its family finished developing the first Brazilian electrical alveolador wax cylinder - in the occasion only six of them existed in Brazil , some already badly functioning . The machine, only manufactured in Germany before Apilani product, is strategical for this diverse market and was awardee times. Today, only Germany and Brazil dominate the process of manufacture of the cylinders, exported by the Apilani since 1991.
Brazilian exports of honey added up to US$ 10.8 million between the months of January and July of 2005. The state of Piauí, in the Northeast of the country, holds the second position for sales in the international market, with US$ 1.6 million. The first place was the state of São Paulo. According to estimates of the Brazilian Apiculture Confederation, Brazil owned, in January 2004, about 4 million beehives producing 33,000 tons of honey per year.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
