People, Bees, and Forests

The Sweetness of Nature, The Potential of BEEs’ Economy 

When we think of honey, we might imagine a golden, viscous nectar with a mellow sweetness, crafted by tiny creatures—bees. Honey naturally enhances the flavor of food, desserts, and drinks. But in reality, bees provide far more benefits to human society than just as a source of sweetener.

At the recent Chiang Mai Design Week 2024, the event offered more than just design ideas for creative lovers. It featured 10 main programs under the theme SCALING LOCAL, which focused on elevating local potential to a global level through various exhibitions and projects. One of them was the exhibition People, Bees, and Forests, which spotlighted the remarkable world of bees.

The exhibition People–Bees–Forests tells the story of the intricate relationship between humans, bees, and forests. It showcases the diversity and uniqueness of honey flavors from different regions and invites visitors to discover the small but mighty hero—bees, who play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and sustaining ecosystems through their minute yet impactful contributions.

The exhibition begins by exploring the connection between bees and forests, explaining that there are over 20,000 species of bees globally. These can be divided into two main groups: social bees, which live in colonies with clear caste roles (queen, worker, and drone), and solitary bees, which make up 90% of all bee species. Solitary bees live alone, with females laying eggs and abandoning the nest without caring for their young. These bees are crucial pollinators, helping plants grow and bear fruit.

From these tiny heroes comes honey, which plays an important role beyond sweetness—it is a natural indicator of forest richness. The abundance of bee colonies reflects the health of a forest: more hives often mean a thriving ecosystem. Hives also reveal whether a year was dry or rainy, and whether the forest is being protected from wildfires or illegal logging, often by local communities. The presence of bees can thus reflect long-term ecological resilience.

The exhibition also features samples of various types of honey, allowing visitors to taste and experience the rich, complex sweetness of this natural product.

Interestingly, honey can have up to 10 distinct flavor notes: sweet, floral-sweet, mellow sweet, sweet-sour, bittersweet, cool-sweet, salty-sweet, and two more unique flavors derived from specific regions. For instance, mangrove forest honey might have a fermented fruit aroma, while honey from swamp forests in brackish or freshwater ecosystems offers a completely different taste.

Workshops at the event include honey testing using various techniques, such as observing color, shaking to check foam, and dripping onto tissue paper.

Assistant Professor Terd Disayathanoowat, a lecturer at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, who initiated a sustainable bee farming and product development project, shared that Thai honey, particularly longan honey, is a growing export product with positive economic trends.

Besides traditional honeybees, Thai farmers are becoming more interested in stingless bees. They are less aggressive, produce high-value honey, and offer excellent health benefits. During meetings with farmers, I’ve seen younger generations showing interest in beekeeping, which is a good sign for the industry’s future.”

Terd also explained the appeal of Thai honey compared to international varieties, referencing research from Chiang Mai University’s SMART BEE SDGs team. The findings show that longan honey has outstanding color, aroma, and taste, with notable health benefits. Thailand is also home to six species of nectar-producing bees, such as the cavity-nesting and giant honeybee, which contribute to the diverse range of local honey.

“Our native stingless bees have many endemic species with unique properties, making Thai honey products truly special and internationally competitive.”

The exhibition also presented honey products meticulously crafted by local communities, supporting honey producers from across northern Thailand. Terd highlighted that the Thai government plays an important role in promoting this sector through the Agricultural Technology Promotion Center for Economic Insects and the Department of Livestock Development, which help establish standards and support beekeeping efforts.

Universities also contribute by conducting research on bee species, health benefits, and value-adding opportunities. Fortunately, more than 10 Thai universities are actively researching bees from various perspectives, making Thailand a strong player in global bee research.

On the private sector side, we see strong collaboration among farmer groups, SMEs, and factories. They exchange knowledge and even work together on pricing and market strategies.”

To further elevate Thai honey and unlock business opportunities, scientific research is essential to develop new products and add value for farmers. Terd cited New Zealand’s Manuka honey, which commands high prices due to robust scientific backing.

“Another crucial area is the promotion of organic Thai honey, which appeals to premium markets. However, meeting organic standards and ensuring proper management poses a significant challenge and requires more study.”

Terd also emphasized the importance of community empowerment through workshops, strengthening networks, teaching new product creation, and consistently sharing research data with farmers. His SMART BEE SDGs research team even secured funding to test honey samples for free for local producers, helping them enhance their marketability and increase prices during exhibitions or trade events.

“If bees disappear from the ecosystem due to human activities like chemical use or monoculture farming, plants won’t be pollinated, fruits and vegetables will vanish, herbivores will decline, followed by predators, and eventually, we humans, at the top of the food chain, will face food shortages.

When the environment collapses, humanity won’t be far behind. But if each of us simply plants some flowers at home, protects our water sources, and greets a bee with a smile instead of fear, these little pollinators will keep coming back. And that’s how people, bees, and forests will continue to thrive—together.”

This exhibition provides not only fascinating insights into the role of bees but also reveals surprising economic opportunities, showing how deeply intertwined these tiny creatures are with our environment, communities, and future.