The purpose of this bulletin is to introduce beekeepers, people considering keeping bees and those interested in processing and marketing to the large diversity of products that can be derived from beekeeping for income generation. Each product category, includinng cosmetics, derived from basic bee products such as honey, pollen, wax, propolis, royal jelly, venom, adult and larval honeybees, is presented in this publication, providing history, description, product quality, marketing aspects and a few selected recipes. A detailed bibliography, a list of suppliers of equipment, conversion of weights and Codex Alimentarius Standards for Honey are given in the annexes.

Honey bees are social insects; they live together in large, well-organized family groups comprising three castes: queen (fertile female), workers (sterile females) and drones (males). During honey flow season, there is a considerable increase in the foraging activity of the workers and in the rate of egg laying by the queen. Sex determination in honey bees involves a multi-allelic locus, such that homozygotes develop as males and heterozygotes as females, whereas diet quality influences the caste determination in honey bees. Like all living organisms, honey bees can be infested with diseases and pests. Some of these are more deleterious to bee colonies than others, but it is important for the beekeeper to be able to recognize conditions that might be disease or pest-related and respond accordingly so as to improve the quality of honey and honey bee by-products. The best-known primary products of beekeeping are honey and wax, but pollen, propolis, royal jelly, venom, queens, bees and their larvae are also marketable primary bee products. The purpose of this book is to make available information on bee biology and beekeeping as well as to provide comprehensive information on manufacturing, processing and marketing of value-added bee products. This book has been designed as a useful tool for the many diverse professionals who characterize and market honey bee products, including beekeepers, non-beekeepers, small entrepreneurs, extension officers and those involved in small business development. This edited book will be the first of its kind to contain comprehensive information on both bees and bee products. Key Features: Contains comprehensive information on beekeeping. Discusses the recent advances in beekeeping. Sheds light on bee colony integration and organization. Contains brief information on honey bee products.

This book presents an updated discussion of the chemical composition and biological properties of the main bee products. Specific attention is focused on the beneficial biological activities of bee products in human health. Honey, royal jelly, propolis, bee pollen and bee venom are used as nutriment and in traditional medicine. Their composition is rather variable and depends on the floral source and external factors, such as seasonal, environmental conditions and processing. Bee products are rich in several essential nutrients and non essential nutrients, as sugars, minerals, proteins, free amino acids, vitamins, enzymes and polyphenols, that seem to be closely related to their biological functions. The effects of these products in nutrition, aging and age-related diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and pathogen infections are discussed.

The nature .and diversity of presentations at the conference on: "Bee Products: Prop erties, Applications and Apitherapy" held at Tel-Aviv on May 26--30, 1996, emphasize the increasing interest of physicians, practitioners, scientists, herbalists, dieticians, cosmeti cians, microbiologists, and beekeepers in different facets of bee products. This volume consists of a selection of 31 contributions presented at the conference and which provide information on the present status of our knowledge in this area. In spite of their diversity, they reflect the mainstream of the conference, namely: "Imported" Prod ucts (honey, pollen and propolis), Exocrine Secretions of Workers (venom, royal jelly). Toxicity and Contaminants, Quality Control, Marketing, Apitherapy, Cosmetics, etc. Since antiquity, honey as well as other bee products were used as food, as a cure for ailments of humans and animals, and as cosmetics. We hope that this volume will contribute to interdisciplinary studies on chemical composition, pharmacological effects, nutrition, and other aspects of bee products. Critical and unbiased experimental research may unravel the yet unknown composition and mode of action of bee products and elucidate many unanswered questions. The noteworthy features of this conference were the participants from all parts of the world and of different cultural backgrounds, who shared their keen interest and curios ity regarding honey bees and their products. We thank all of them for their personal con tribution to the success of this conference.

Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugar made by bees. Honeybees collect a liquid secretion from flowers, called nectar, and take this back to their hives. It is an appreciated natural gift to humanity derived entirely from honeybees. Honey is the by-product of nectar collected by bees from the flowers, with some digestive enzymes produced by the honeybees themselves. Honey: A Miraculous Product of Nature summarizes the current status of honey, it’s uses and related aspects. This illustrated volume describes use of honey in traditional medicines, i.e. Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani by acting as a preservative and nourishing agent. Also, other properties like digestibility, palatability, deliciousness, refreshing, thirst quencher, stomachic, anti-obtrusive, expectorant, anti-oxidative, anti-tussive and blood purifier are explained in beautiful manner. The role of honey in improving eyesight, strengthens gums and teeth and it’s use in jaundice, spleen enlargement, sore throat, chest diseases, sexual debility, renal and cystic calculi, intestinal worms, heart diseases and leprosy is very well described. The compiled knowledge from range of bee scientists, Honey: A Miraculous Product of Nature aims to provide broad knowledge on honey to the researchers, apiculturists and students to continue their work on honey and honeybees.

"The booklet's aim is to create awareness and promote beekeeping as a viable diversification enterprise for small-scale farmers. Its main objective is to demonstrate how beekeeping can become an important business for small-scale farmers in their agricultural endeavours and how this can support their livelihoods in rural and remote areas. The booklet is intended for all those working in rural development projects in public, private and donor organizations."--P. 7.