The potential of exporting queen bees from the USA to Europe in the context of global competition in the agricultural sector

Abstract

In the current context of agricultural market globalization and stricter quality requirements for beekeeping products, international trade in breeding material, particularly queen bees, is becoming increasingly important. This study aims to assess the potential for developing exports of queen bees from the United States to European countries, taking into account increased global competition, biosafety concerns, genetic characteristics, and breed compatibility.

Methods. The study employs a systematic approach that combines the analysis of statistical data on the volume of exports and imports of queen bees, a comparative analysis of scientific publications from the past five years, and expert assessments based on secondary information from open sources and industry analytical reports.

Results. It has been established that despite the growing demand for high-quality breeding material in European countries, the US faces several barriers, the most significant of which are EU regulatory restrictions on the import of live insects, the risks of spreading specific pathogens, differences in the breeding priorities of European and American beekeepers, and the logistical component of the cost of queens. At the same time, the competitive advantages of American queen bees have been identified, particularly in terms of genetic diversity, adaptability to intensive honey collection, and potentially higher productivity compared to certain local European breeds. The impact of climate change and biodiversity loss on demand in the breeding material segment was assessed, showing a trend toward an increase in the share of imported queens in the structure of apiary renewal in Europe.

Conclusions. The results of the study confirm that the expansion of queen bee exports from the US to Europe is possible under the conditions of harmonization of veterinary requirements, the formation of joint breeding programs, and the development of marketing strategies aimed at demonstrating the advantages of American breeding material, taking into account the needs of individual EU countries. Further research should focus on studying the impact of climatic factors and diseases on the effectiveness of imported queens, as well as on developing biosafety protocols that minimize risks to local bee populations.