Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture presents hoverflies as an alternative to the honeybee shortage
Our partner API took part in a national seminar organised by the Ministry of Agriculture in Tochigi, the country’s main strawberry-growing region, and also showed our hoverflies at work in two strawberry greenhouses.
Japan has been facing a shortage of honeybees for several years, a concern shared across its entire horticultural sector. Against this backdrop, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries held a seminar on 8 October in Tochigi Prefecture, the country’s main strawberry-growing region, where hoverflies were introduced as a potential solution to the problem.
A seminar with nationwide reach
Around 300 people from across the country attended, either in person or online: staff from regional agricultural administration bureaus, agricultural cooperatives, horticultural associations and seed and seedling companies, as well as five representatives from the Ministry’s headquarters.
Takeshi Nakano of API, our partner and distributor in Japan, gave a presentation on the use of hoverflies as pollinators. For many attendees it was their first introduction to hoverflies, and the presentation sparked a lively exchange of ideas and opinions.
A demonstration in strawberry greenhouses
The API team took the discussion into the field with a live demonstration of our hoverflies in two strawberry greenhouses, attended by ten representatives from four seed and seedling companies.
Ministry officials expressed their appreciation for the initiative to propose hoverflies as a response to the honeybee shortage, and for the chance to see them working in real conditions just ahead of the strawberry season.
Another step forward in Japan
The seminar follows a visit this summer by API representatives to our facilities in Almería, Spain, to review the first season of our pollinators in Japan. The fact that the Ministry itself has brought hoverflies into the pollination debate reflects the growing interest in them as an alternative in one of the world’s most demanding horticultural markets.
We will continue working alongside API to support Japanese growers throughout this season. Would you like to find out how our hoverflies can help your crops? Our team of specialist technicians will help you plan and optimise your pollination practices.