GLDA, GFSA to host second annual “Honey Fest”

GLDA, GFSA to host second annual ‘Honey Fest’
– aim to strengthen apiculture sector
Following a successful first staging, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), in collaboration with the Guyana Food Safety Authority (GFSA), will host the second annual “Honey Fest 2025”—a national celebration of innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in the apiculture industry. The event is slated for Friday, October 31, 2025, on the lawns of the GLDA Headquarters at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Held under the theme “Buzz Forward: Sweet Innovation for a Safe and Sustainable Future” and sub-theme “Transforming Livelihoods through Agri-Food Systems,” this year’s Honey Fest underscores Guyana’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the apiculture sector as a viable, eco-friendly contributor to national economic growth. A major focus of Honey Fest 2025 will be on expanding both regional and international markets for Guyanese honey and honey by-products. Through this event, the GLDA and GFSA aim to showcase national efforts to ensure the authenticity, quality, and safety of locally produced honey through laboratory testing, traceability systems, and certification processes. This partnership is expected to enhance consumer confidence while ensuring that Guyana’s honey meets international standards—positioning the country to tap into lucrative markets across the Caribbean and beyond.

Regional collaboration and knowledge exchange
This year’s festival will also feature participants from Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and other Caribbean territories, fostering a spirit of regional cooperation and shared learning. Representatives from local financial institutions will also be on hand to engage beekeepers on financing opportunities and investment options to support enterprise development. Beekeepers from across Guyana will take part in exhibitions, technical sessions, and live demonstrations. The GLDA will use the event to highlight Guyana’s Honey Economic Production Zone and to showcase innovative technologies designed to enhance productivity and improve quality assurance within the sector.

Driving inclusive growth through apiculture
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GLDA, Dr Dwight Walrond, described Honey Fest not merely as a celebration, but as an important economic development initiative, designed to create an enabling environment for both new and existing beekeepers. “This festival is a golden opportunity for our nation,” Dr Walrond stated. “We are moving beyond traditional beekeeping to embrace technology, investment, and strategic marketing that will position Guyanese honey as a premium global product. Our long-term goal, in keeping with President Ali’s vision, is to transform Guyana from an importer into a net exporter of honey and bee-related products, thereby creating sustainable livelihoods for our people.”
Advancing Guyana’s vision for sustainable development

Honey Fest 2025 is being hosted in alignment with the national Agriculture Month theme, “Transforming Livelihoods through Agri-Food Systems,” and directly supports the Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.
The Government of Guyana recognises apiculture as a sustainable, environmentally friendly and high-value enterprise that contributes to both national food security and economic diversification. Since assuming office, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has prioritised the development of non-traditional agricultural industries — including honey production — through targeted investments, technical assistance, and policy support.
Over the past three years, the Ministry of Agriculture, through its technical arms—the GLDA and GFSA—has increased support for apiculture through: Establishment of demonstration apiaries, Training for new and existing beekeepers, Provision of equipment and start-up materials Development of the National Honey Production and Marketing Programme, aimed at expanding both local and export market access. These initiatives are part of President Ali’s broader agenda to ensure that every region benefits from agri-food system transformation, strengthening rural livelihoods through sustainable, value-added production.

A festival with purpose
Ultimately, Honey Fest 2025 embodies the PPP/C Government’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and innovation-driven agricultural growth. It also highlights the vital role of the apiculture sector in promoting biodiversity, job creation, environmental protection, and foreign exchange generation. As Guyana continues to experience rapid economic expansion driven by oil and gas, initiatives like Honey Fest ensure that non-oil sectors remain vibrant, competitive and resilient—aligning with the nation’s goals for sustainable and equitable development.