Empowering Women Through Beekeeping
In Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, one of the country’s leading honey-producing regions, six groups of Maya women are transforming their communities through sustainable beekeeping and meliponiculture. With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Mexico and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the women receive training, organizational tools, and resources to merge ancestral knowledge with modern sustainable practices.
Protecting Bees Amid Growing Challenges
Local apiculture faces mounting threats from industrial agriculture, pesticide use, deforestation, and climate change, all of which endanger bees and the livelihoods that depend on them. To address this, UNDP promotes climate governance, sustainable income alternatives, and inclusive innovations that strengthen community resilience.
From Honey to Value-Added Products
The Maya women are diversifying production by transforming honey, wax, propolis, and pollen into market-ready products. Workshops held in early 2025 explored techniques for creating soaps, shampoos, ointments, candies, and other derivatives while analyzing local demand. More advanced groups are perfecting formulas with ecological methods, while newcomers are tailoring approaches to their community needs.
Building Collective Strength
The initiative emphasizes collaborative organization. Through regular meetings and shared decision-making, the groups are improving financial record-keeping, exploring product diversification, and leveraging social media for marketing. Each collective is focusing on specific hive products while prioritizing bee health, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.
Next Steps Toward Market Expansion
In the coming months, the groups will continue to refine their products, design branding and packaging, and prepare for their first regional sales. By combining tradition, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, Maya women are carving a path toward stronger economies and healthier ecosystems in Yucatán.
