This fact sheet provides an overview of the various digital technologies used in beekeeping It addresses common challenges and seeks accessible, preferably affordable, ways to tackle them. The end goal is to introduce beekeepers to the benefits of available digital technologies and offer constructive and practical input, which can help them make better decisions, add higher value, and improve their livelihoods. Innovative technologies for beekeeping have been grouped into three categories: 1) precision beekeeping, 2) record-keeping, traceability and market access, 3) information exchange and capacity development.
Whether they are simple scales or high-end blockchain solutions, their suitability is dependent upon the beekeepers’ needs, technological skills and literacy, but also their ability to invest. Among the different technologies and their applications, several are better suited for small-scale beekeepers in rural areas characterized by high poverty rates, while others are sophisticated solutions likely to be implemented by tech-savvy beekeepers who have access to finance.
