Its agrarian landscape dotted with smaller farms that carry the potential for organic farming, experienced beekeepers in Serbia can more easily make the leap into organic honey production when starting with at least 38 colonies, according to a study published in Economics of Agriculture.  

A growing interest in organic honey prompted the study’s authors to perform an economic analysis of organic beekeeping in Serbia, which revealed that beekeepers that start with up to 30 colonies operate at a loss, whereas those with 38 colonies (570kg of honey) breakeven, and 50 or more colonies can turn a profit. Contrary to nonorganic beekeeping, where a gradual build in the number of colonies and production is recommended, the study’s analysis suggests that organic honey production is more economically viable in Serbia when beekeepers already have experience and start with a larger number of colonies.

Organic beekeepers with 200 colonies or more have the highest fixed costs and the quickest return on investment when factoring in the cost of organic certification. In Serbia, it takes one to two years for beekeepers to make the transition to organic and acquire certification. Those beekeepers with 200 colonies can cover the expense of organic certification in the third year of production, whereas those with 100 colonies may take up to six, and 50 colonies can take twelve years. Beekeepers with as few as 30 colonies cannot justify the cost of organic certification.

For organic beekeepers with 100 colonies, after covering all costs, the profit is 2,213 Euros, while farms with double the capacity generate 6,350 Euros or 529 Euros per month. Because many beekeepers are hobbyists or enthusiasts, some may not factor in the cost of labor. When the study authors exclude the cost of labor, all beekeeping operations are profitable in third year of organic honey production.

The study’s authors also suggest that the economic barometers for organic honey could improve with greater demand for organic products, as the organic market in Serbia is in its early stages. Italy, Bulgaria, France, Romania, and Spain are the top five countries in Europe for organic honey production.

Learn more about the science and impact of organic beekeeping through The Organic Center’s recipes: https://www.organic-center.org/recipes/creamy-hibiscus-iced-tea-rose-water-and-honey.

Keywords: beekeeping, honey, organic, Serbia, certification, economic analysis