The final conference of the European project Bee2gether, co-financed by the Interreg VI-A Italy-Slovenia Programme, was held on Thursday, 28 August at the Pilot and Demonstrative Farm Vallevecchia (Brussa di Caorle, VE). The event marked the conclusion of a cross-border journey that placed bees at the center as bioindicators for biodiversity protection and the development of more sustainable agricultural practices.
After the registration of participants and the welcome remarks by Lorenzo Furlan (Veneto Agricoltura), Serenella Spolon (Veneto Agricoltura) presented the Bee2gether project’s pathway and its main results.
Also speaking were Andreja Grom (Joint Secretariat – Autonomous Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, Central Directorate for Finance, Specialized Operational Unit for the management of ERDF community resources and regional integrative programmes) and Jacopo Testoni (Veneto Region – E.Q. Diversification and multifunctionality of agricultural enterprises), who highlighted the importance of cross-border cooperation and institutional support for innovative initiatives such as Bee2gether.
Subsequently, Alessandro Zorer (Melixa srl) and Tiziana Perin (Alto Adriatico Technology Centre) addressed the topic of precision beekeeping, presenting sensors and digital tools capable of supporting beekeepers’ work and contributing to real-time monitoring of colony health.
The role of pollen as an indicator of environmental quality was the focus of the presentation by Danilo Bevk (NIB – National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana), who showed how pollen analysis can provide valuable information on the presence of pesticides and heavy metals in the environment.
Participants were then invited to visit an electronic apiary and a field of Silphium, a plant studied for its beekeeping and agricultural potential.
The morning concluded with a presentation by Lorenzo Furlan (Veneto Agricoltura) on the action plan for cross-border sustainable agriculture, highlighting good practices and modern technologies for an agriculture that respects the environment and safeguards biodiversity.
The day ended with a convivial light lunch, offering an opportunity for exchange between beekeepers, researchers, and technicians from Italy and Slovenia.
📌 The event granted training credits and confirmed the importance of the Bee2gether project as a concrete experience of innovation, sustainability, and cross-border cooperation.
