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Cyprus has assumed a coordinating role in a new €2.8 million Mediterranean initiative that aims to turn beekeeping into a lever for rural growth, environmental protection and sustainable tourism.
The PLANBEE project, led by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), was officially launched last week at an international conference in Amman, bringing together policymakers, entrepreneurs and environmental experts from across the region.
Although the launch event was held in Jordan, overall coordination is being carried out from Cyprus, placing the island at the centre of a regional effort to link biodiversity with entrepreneurship as rural areas face mounting pressure from climate change and rising production costs.
CCCI said the conference attracted more than 300 participants, both in person and online, and marked Jordan’s entry into a growing Mediterranean network focused on what organisers describe as the “Bee Economy”.
Beyond honey production
For Cyprus, the project reflects a broader rethinking of traditional sectors such as beekeeping. PLANBEE promotes business models that go beyond honey, emphasising sustainable practices, local plant varieties, women-led enterprises and niche tourism.
Cyprus’ distinctive honey products, shaped by wild herbs and thyme-rich landscapes, are seen as a strong foundation for initiatives such as apitourism and themed “HoneyBeeRoutes”, linking rural communities with visitors seeking locally based experiences.
Regional cooperation
PLANBEE is co-funded at 89% by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme and is being implemented by seven partners from six Mediterranean regions.
Discussions in Amman focused on how sustainable beekeeping can support local economies while protecting ecosystems, with particular emphasis on skills development, innovation and women’s entrepreneurship under the so-called MED Queen Bee concept.
The conference was held under the auspices of Jordan’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply and concluded with a networking session aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation.
Cyprus as coordinator
According to CCCI, the project positions Cyprus as a regional coordinator and knowledge hub, drawing on its experience as a Mediterranean island economy with strong links between agriculture, tourism and rural development.
As PLANBEE moves from launch to implementation, attention is expected to shift to how its concepts are applied on the ground, including in Cyprus, where beekeeping is increasingly viewed as an integrated approach to sustainable rural development.
