Photo: MaYa FoundationA group of young beekeepers represented Malta in an international beekeeping competition in Dubai, in an initiative coordinated by the Malta Youth in Agriculture (MaYa) Foundation.
Three A-Level Biology students were selected from Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School to represent Malta at the 13th International Meeting of Young Beekeepers (IMYB) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
They were accompanied by their educator, Ms. Maria Lourdes Attard, as well as Jorge Spiteri from the MaYa Foundation who mentored the students. Attard prepared them with skills in honeybee product marketing and guided them on how to approach their presentations.
The event, held from the 18th to 22nd of December 2024, brings together young beekeepers, or prospective ones, from 20 countries across five continents to exchange cultures, knowledge, and innovations while engaging in friendly competition. It is open young beekeepers, aged between 11 and 17 years.
The Maltese team secured the top award in the Country Competition for narratives about Maltese honey and solutions to challenges faced by bees and beekeepers in arid regions. Some individual members of the Maltese delegation also earned gold and bronze placements in mixed-team theoretical and practical assessments.
The IMYB provides participants with opportunities to develop marketing and packaging skills and encourages an entrepreneurial mindset. Through the experience, the participants explored innovative ways to present and promote Maltese honey to a global audience.
“The event consistently fosters cross-cultural connections, inspires new ideas, and helps participants uncover their potential,” the MaYa Foundation said.
The foundation thanked VisitMalta, Wellbee’s Supermarket, Safi, and cultural ambassador tenor Joseph Calleja who helped to facilitate the delegation’s participation in the competition.
