Six prominent businessmen from the beekeeping sector in the Ñuble region were part of a trade mission to Spain that included their intervention at the Barcelona Food Fair, a consolidated event in the agri-food sector, which seeks to promote innovation, internationalization and identification of trends at the international level. global in this area. The trip, which took place in March 2024, was carried out within the framework of the execution of the Red Mercados Apícola Ñuble program, co-financed by Corfo.
“Red Mercado is a program aimed at improving the competitiveness of a group of companies with export potential. Through advice, they are given support to adapt their offer and implement marketing processes, which facilitate their entry into new markets. In this context, the beekeeping entrepreneurs carried out a commercial prospecting trip, in which they had the opportunity to be part of the Barcelona Fair, an event highly recognized internationally for being a great platform for visibility and connection with potential businesses. We are happy that this activity has come to fruition and we hope that the links and networks established there materialize and contribute to the growth of companies in this sector,” said Macarena Dávila, regional director of Corfo.
As explained by Marcela Solís, director of the program, the businessmen managed to establish contacts with potential suppliers of packaging machinery and packaging and marketing items. In addition, they established agreements with potential clients, including Spanish producers, large companies that export honey to the European Union, pastry shops, ice cream parlors and dessert factories. “We are very happy, because this trade mission culminated successfully, with agreements for the sending of samples and quotes for the export of honey, pollen, propolis and living material to the European Union. Without a doubt, the participation of regional businessmen in the Barcelona Food Fair was a great opportunity, in their search for internationalization and growth,” said Solís.
The Ñuble Bee Market Network program takes place between January and October of this year. Six entrepreneurs in the sector participate in it, including honey producers, pollinators and producers of nutritional supplements for bees.
The program also includes activities aimed at strengthening the innovation and associative capacities of entrepreneurs, through workshops, business conferences and trade missions, such as the one that recently occurred in Spain.
“We are very happy with our participation in the fair. We hope that this will allow us to obtain better sales prices and open new export opportunities in the medium term,” said Andrés González, a producer from San Carlos.
Along the same lines, Daniel Palma, a beekeeper from Chillán, valued the experience and highlighted the importance of working associatively to position the sector abroad. “This initiative has been extremely beneficial for our group. At this moment, our joint honey production exceeds 100 tons, and being able to attend this fair to offer our product is an important step. Thanks to Corfo, exportation is a reality today,” he stated.
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