Receiving runner-up honors for its efforts in pollinator protection, the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee was named among the top three finalists in the 2025 Golden Bee Award. The official World Bee Day celebrations on May 20 at the historic Ljubljana Castle in Slovenia included this announcement.
Established by the Republic of Slovenia, the Golden Bee Award is thought to be the most prestigious worldwide honor in the area of pollinator preservation. Every year it celebrates exceptional efforts in worldwide pollinator protection, research, and promotion. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Mateja Čalušić officially opened the 2025 award ceremony, while President of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar presided.
Osmia Future, a Polish firm that created a creative digital platform to maximize pollination in orchards, received the highest award. By means of public awareness campaigns and pollinator education, their system supports sustainable agricultural practices by lowering pesticide use and fostering improved nest planning.
Among the two runner-up finalists was the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Honey Bee, honored for its National Insect Initiative, which officially named the Maltese honey bee (Apis mellifera ruttneri) as Malta’s National Insect. After the Foundation made a formal request to the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) on World Bee Day 2023, this designation was officially formalized via Legal Notice 233 of 2024. A legal research survey done in partnership with the University of Malta underlined the special ecological significance of this endemic subspecies and the necessity of its legal protection, so bolstering the campaign.
The Foundation’s acknowledgement at this global event highlights its spearheading in species preservation and environmental advocacy. Sairita Cassar, a committed supporter of the Foundation and its goal, formally represented Malta at the event.
