The Arab-Italian Cooperation Chamber, partner in the MedBEESinessHubs project, organized online meetings with its two Associated partners: the Apiaresos Association and the FEDAPIMED Mediterranean Beekeepers Association for planning future collaboration and implementation of the MedBEESinessHubs project. 

Italy specifically foresees the involvement of the Region of Sardinia in this project of cross-border cooperation with Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and Palestine. Having the testimony of two major realities of the beekeeping sector was essential to have an accurate overview of the current situation, to collaborate and support each other in future initiatives for efficient project implementation.

According to the Beekeeping Database indicators, 1767 beekeepers operate on Sardinian territory. However, it is necessary to insist with the development of policies able to attract young entrepreneurs in beekeeping, given that beekeepers under 30 years of age are currently around 8% (55% of beekeepers are under 50 years of age) and the presence of women in beekeeping accounts for 27%. 

Sardinia is worldwide known for its outstanding natural beauty, and there are many local realities that try to preserve it.  In order to highlight the value of the island’s natural and traceable products, for instance, Hotel Abi d'Oru has started The Abi Bees project, which is an inspirational example of innovative sustainability. Hotel Abi d'Oru situated in a small town in central Sardinia has recently launched The Abi Bees project to promote natural beekeeping, which does not use substances harmful to the ecosystem. Guests can visit the site safely and talk to the beekeeper about the importance of bees for the future of life on earth. 

Meetings with Associate partners began with the presentation of the project, the work teams and followed with a more extensive explanation of the outputs, activities, and expected results, opening a stimulating dialogue for future initiatives in the Region of Sardinia.

Associate partners outlined the following:
●    Deficiency in financial and business knowledge of young businesses; 
●    The imbalance between demand and supply of beekeeping-related goods/services; 
●    Willingness to expand into foreign markets, but lack of resources to do so;
●    The need for greater support and innovation for SMEs already present in the Region of Sardinia

In this sense, the MedBEESinessHubs project intends to intervene in these points through the proposed outputs of the project on the subject of:
●    Training (technical and financial business workshop, training on the artisanal processing of bee products and policy document that incorporates the concept of Bee economy in European and national policies);
●    Sub-grants (for setting up their own bee-business through sub-grants)
●    Promotion (an online platform to promote Mediterranean beekeeping companies, products and destinations). 

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