According to the latest data from Eurostat, the number of commercial beehives on farms is increasing, despite the immediate threat to which some bee species are exposed, reports Euronews, cited by Rador.

A new report found more than 8 million beehives on EU farms in 2020 — more than 1 million more than the previous data set.

The count includes only hives on farms, excluding home and individual hives. There are also some oddities: Germany, for example, does not count hives as part of farms and therefore reported zero in the last count.

Bees are big business in Europe

Pollinators, including honeybees, bumblebees and wild bees, are estimated to contribute at least €22 billion to the European agricultural industry each year.

According to Eurostat, more than 80 cases of pollination of agricultural crops and wild flora occur in Europe with the direct or indirect participation of bees.

But despite their importance, 10% of bee and butterfly species are currently threatened with extinction – and a 2018 review of the EU’s Pollinator Initiative aims to reverse this “alarming decline”.

Which EU country has the most beehives?

Romania had 1.5 million beehives on farms, thus maintaining its status as the capital of honey production in the EU.

Italy and Greece also had one million beehives on farms in 2020, followed by Spain, Bulgaria and Portugal.

Spain and Portugal, in particular, stand out in the EU for the number of beehives on farms. In Spain, Extremadura had more than 300,000 beehives on farms, followed by the northern region of Portugal with more than 250,000.

However, the count is only a partial picture, as Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden do not have a significant number of beehives on farms. (photo: Dreamstime)