Granadilla de Abona Launches Beekeeping School to Boost Local Industry and Biodiversity

Granadilla de Abona is taking a major step toward professionalizing its agricultural sector by launching a new Beekeeping School. The local council aims to create a regional hub for beekeeping, recognizing that the industry is essential not only for the economy but also for protecting biodiversity and pollination across the Canary Islands.

The project, supported by the Association of Canarian Black Bee Breeders (Crianca), will be based at the Las Crucitas facilities. This site was chosen for its ideal layout, which includes active beehives and an extraction room. This setup allows students to gain hands-on experience in every stage of production, from managing bee colonies to processing the final honey.

José Sanabria, head of the Department of the Primary Sector, emphasized that the initiative aims to give beekeeping the institutional support it has historically lacked. The council intends for the school to serve as a catalyst for local jobs and entrepreneurship. To support this, the city is connecting the school to its "Land Bank," which helps new beekeepers lease plots of land, making it easier for them to start their own businesses.

This initiative is particularly important given the threats posed by climate change and habitat loss. By offering training from beginner to advanced levels, Granadilla de Abona hopes to encourage a new generation of beekeepers and protect the unique genetic heritage of the Canarian black bee. The municipality will soon announce enrollment details and course schedules on its official channels as it works to make beekeeping a sustainable pillar of the local economy.