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Changes in temperature, alterations in the seasons and the intense summer heat that brings with it large-scale fires are destroying the traditional production of honey in Sicily, Italy. Amid substantial losses in just a decade, beekeepers are turning to artificial techniques to nurture bees.
This year Sicily was affected by the low temperatures that were registered in April and prevented the production of a series of spring flowers necessary for the manufacture of nectar, a product that serves as food for bees for the production of honey.
“After the cold period, came the dry heat, which further reduced production,” said Riccardo Redoglia, president of the Provincial Association of Beekeepers of Piacenza, to the local media ‘Liberta.it’.
Many beekeepers saw their hives empty this year. The high temperatures caused fires in the region, the fire that burned large areas of territory and part of the essential vegetation for feeding the bees.
Given the lack of vegetation, some beekeepers have resorted to artificial methods for feeding the bees, in order to prevent the disappearance of the colonies. However, many efforts have been insufficient to rescue production.
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