The limitations of agroecological beekeeping's sustainability: The case of Tahtalı Area agroecological beekeeping project

The aim of the study is to identify the factors that play a role in sustaining agroecological beekeeping within the framework of the Agroecological Beekeeping Project conducted by the ÇARIK association and ApiKoop in the Tahtalı Basin located in the Menderes district of İzmir. The study also aims to assess to what extent agroecological beekeeping can establish a presence and spread in Turkey. In this context, it becomes crucial to understand how the structural adjustment policies implemented under the influence of globalized agriculture in Turkey affect small-scale family farming, agricultural production, products, and consumers. In order to sustain agroecological beekeeping, its differentiating aspects from industrial beekeeping, the needs of producers, cooperative activities and the physical conditions that make the Tahtalı Basin suitable for the project were analyzed. In the research, in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-five producers and two cooperative officials that are found by snowball sampling method. It has been observed that beekeepers hold pessimistic views about the future of small-scale producers due to rising costs. To ensure the sustainability of agroecological beekeeping, it has been determined that an agricultural plan implemented by decision-makers and strong cooperative structures are necessary. The key differences that distinguish agroecological beekeeping from industrial beekeeping have been observed to be the reduced emphasis on profit-driven interventions, stationary beekeeping, and the prioritization of herbal medicine use.