By Esther, Owner of Little Giant Beekeepers
In November, I had the opportunity to attend the One Health & Honey Bees | CMACC 2025 Conference in Las Vegas, an event dedicated to advancing education and collaboration in the world of apitherapy. The conference brought together researchers, medical professionals, apitherapy practitioners, and beekeepers from around the world, all united by a shared interest in the therapeutic potential of honey bees and the critical role they play in both human and environmental health.
The experience was educational, inspiring, and deeply affirming of the importance of responsible beekeeping and hive stewardship.
Understanding Apitherapy and the One Health Approach
CMACC’s mission is to educate attendees on the latest research in apitherapy and provide practical knowledge for incorporating bee-based remedies into personal wellness routines and professional practices. This year’s theme strongly emphasized the One Health concept — the idea that human health, animal health, and environmental health are inseparably connected.
Honey bees sit at the center of this concept. They are responsible for pollinating approximately 30 percent of the food we eat directly, and they contribute more than $18 billion annually to U.S. agricultural production. Without healthy honey bee populations, the consequences would extend far beyond honey production, affecting food security, ecosystems, and global economic stability.
Medicinal Beekeeping: Raising the Standard
One of the most impactful sessions I attended was led by Dr. Stefan Stangaciu, MD, President of the International Federation of Apitherapy. His presentation focused on the concept of Medicinal Beekeeping, which reframes beekeeping as a health-oriented practice rather than solely an agricultural or hobby-based pursuit.
Medicinal beekeeping emphasizes that the therapeutic quality of hive products begins long before harvest. Hive placement, forage diversity, chemical-free environments, stress reduction, harvesting methods, and processing techniques all directly influence the medicinal properties of honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, and even emerging therapies such as beehive air and bee vibrations.
Dr. Stangaciu stressed the importance of collaboration between apitherapy practitioners and ethical beekeepers to ensure access to authentic, therapeutic-grade hive products. This approach reinforces the responsibility beekeepers carry not just to the bees, but to the people who rely on the healing potential of hive products.
Honey Bees as a Pillar of Global Health
Another key takeaway from the conference was a deeper understanding of how honey bees support human wellbeing beyond pollination. In addition to sustaining ecosystems and food systems, bees provide products that many people incorporate into their health routines, from raw honey and propolis to more specialized apitherapy applications.
The conference highlighted how protecting honey bee health ultimately protects our own. When bees thrive, ecosystems stabilize, agriculture flourishes, and high-quality hive products become available for both nutrition and therapeutic use. The health of the hive truly mirrors the health of the environment around it.
Education, Community, and Collaboration
CMACC 2025 was not only about lectures and research; it was also about community. The event welcomed both seasoned professionals and those new to apitherapy, creating an environment where shared learning and collaboration were encouraged. Conversations extended well beyond the classroom, fostering connections between beekeepers, healthcare-minded practitioners, and advocates for sustainable living.
The conference also included a Saturday night Gala, bringing attendees together in a relaxed and celebratory setting. It was a reminder that education can be engaging, uplifting, and community-driven.
Bringing These Lessons Home
Attending the CMACC 2025 Apitherapy Conference reinforced how interconnected our work is as beekeepers. Whether our focus is bee removal, hive relocation, honey production, or education, the decisions we make directly affect the health of our bees and the quality of the products they produce.
At Little Giant Beekeepers, continuing education allows us to approach our work with greater care, intention, and respect for the role honey bees play in our world. Learning about medicinal beekeeping and the One Health framework strengthens our commitment to ethical practices that benefit both people and pollinators.
Healthy bees mean healthy ecosystems, healthier food systems, and greater potential for natural, hive-based therapies. Conferences like CMACC remind us that protecting bees is not just an environmental responsibility — it’s a human one as well.
— Esther
