Socioeconomic Assessment of the Beekeeping Sector in the Region of Murcia (Spain)

Beekeeping plays a fundamental and irreplaceable role in the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of agricultural systems in the Mediterranean region. While in other climatic regions this activity shows a low degree of professionalization, in southeastern Spain, around 80% of beekeeping farms are managed by professional beekeepers. However, the economic viability of these farms is becoming increasingly threatened due to rising production costs, climate change, and growing market pressure. In this context, the present study aims to technically and economically characterize the three most representative beekeeping production systems in the Region of Murcia: non-transhumant systems, local transhumant systems, and long-distance transhumant systems. To this end, an economic and financial analysis was carried out using a cost accounting approach, establishing the production cost structure for a representative annual production cycle. The results show that transhumant systems require greater investment, mainly as a consequence of the operating expenses associated with hive mobility and supplementary feeding. Nevertheless, their higher productivity allows them to achieve lower unit production costs while generating higher employment levels and greater labor productivity. Overall, the results show that, in semi-arid Mediterranean regions, transhumance constitutes an essential adaptation strategy. This practice increases productivity, reduces dependence on supplementary feeding, lowers unit production costs and, ultimately, strengthens the economic viability and competitiveness of beekeeping farms.