To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day. Why this date? 20 May coincides with the birthday of Anton Janša, who in the 18th century pioneered modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia and praised the bees for their ability to work so hard, while needing so little attention. The proposal set forth by the Republic of Slovenia, with the support of Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations and FAO, to celebrate World Bee Day on 20 May each year met with approval by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017. Theme for 2026 - Bee together for people and the planet For millennia, bees and people have shared a close and evolving connection, shaped by the ways communities across the world have relied on bees for food and livelihoods, with bees often becoming part of their cultural identity. From honey hunting to a large variety of beekeeping systems, this relationship has continually adapted to different environments, technologies, and socio-cultural needs. World Bee Day 2026 focuses on how humans and bees have been working together to nourish and sustain people and the environment. It will highlight the evolution of beekeeping across diverse cultures and landscapes over thousands of years, while promoting innovative approaches that improve bee production and health, and support the livelihoods of beekeepers, including women and youth. It will also emphasize how both traditional knowledge and modern technologies can contribute to sustainable beekeeping, and how partnerships and inclusive approaches can help secure a sustainable future for both pollinators and people, while advancing the transformation of agrifood systems. This theme aligns closely with the International Year of Rangeland and Pastoralists 2026 and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, offering valuable opportunities to reflect on the role of beekeeping in rural and pastoral livelihoods and its contribution to women’s empowerment. The value of bees Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities. Pollinators allow many plants, including many food crops, to reproduce. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity - a cornerstone of the Sustainable Development Goals. They also serve as sentinels for emergent environmental risks, signaling the health of local ecosystems. Invasive insects, pesticides, land-use change and monocropping practices may reduce available nutrients and pose threats to bee colonies. Key facts and figures Three out of four crops across the globe producing fruits or seeds for human use as food depend, at least in part, on pollinators. There are different pollinators species in the world, such as butterfies, birds and bats. The most popular ones are bees. There are between 25,000 to 30,000 species. The vast majority of pollinator species are wild, including more than 20,000 species of bees. Pollinators contribute to 35 percent of the world’s total crop production, pollinating 87 of 115 leading food crops worldwide. Pollinator-dependent food products contribute to healthy diets and nutrition. Pollinators are under threat – sustainable agriculture can reduce risk to pollinators by helping to diversify the agricultural landscape and making use of ecological processes as part of food production. Safeguarding bees safeguards biodiversity: the vast majority of pollinators are wild, including over 20,000 species of bees. A pollination crisis Bees are under threat. Present species extinction rates are 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal due to human impacts. Close to 35 percent of invertebrate pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, and about 17 percent of vertebrate pollinators, such as bats, face extinction globally. Pollinators face main challenges today, from intensive agriculture, pesticides, to climate change. The absence of an appropriate habitat for bees could lead to a continuous decline in pollination. Mono-cropping, pesticides and higher temperatures associated with climate change all pose problems for bee populations and, by extension, the quality of food we grow. Recognizing the dimensions of the pollination crisis and its links to biodiversity and human livelihoods, the Convention on Biological Diversity has made the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators a priority. In 2000, the International Pollinator Initiative (IPI) was established (COP decision V/5, section II) at the Fifth Conference of Parties (COP V) as a cross-cutting initiative to promote coordinated action worldwide to: Monitor pollinator decline, its causes and its impact on pollination services; Address the lack of taxonomic information on pollinators; Assess the economic value of pollination and the economic impact of the decline of pollination services; and Promote the conservation and the restoration and sustainable use of pollinator diversity in agriculture and related ecosystems. Caring for bees and other pollinators is part of the fight against world hunger. How can we do more? Individuals planting a diverse set of native plants, which flower at different times of the year; buying raw honey from local farmers; buying products from sustainable agricultural practices; avoiding pesticides, fungicides or herbicides in our gardens; protecting wild bee colonies when possible; sponsoring a hive; making a bee water fountain by leaving a water bowl outside; helping sustaining forest ecosystems; raising awareness around us by sharing this information within our communities and networks; The decline of bees affects us all! The following successful approaches for decision-makers should include: Pollinator-friendly pesticide policies; Conservation and enhancement of pollinator habitats; Valuation, incentives, and payments for ecosystem services; Participation, knowledge-sharing, and empowerment of rural and indigenous peoples and local communities; Collaborative research and outreach; Public awareness raising and knowledge sharing. Protection measures for farmers and governments Recommended practices for farmers to create a good habitat for bees to ensure pollination include: leaving some areas under natural habitat; creating hedgerows; reducing or changing the usage of pesticides; leaving nesting sites; and planting attractive crops around the field. On a policy level, a more diverse agriculture and less dependency on toxic chemicals to facilitate an increase in pollination, leading to improved food quality and a surge in food quantity are encouraged. Source : UN