DR Congo Turns to Beekeeping to Drive Economic and Climate Goals

In Kinshasa, the inaugural National Beekeeping Forum has signaled a shift toward formalizing the country's honey production. By bringing together government officials and private entrepreneurs, the event aims to transform a fragmented traditional industry into a competitive, export-ready sector capable of bolstering rural livelihoods and environmental resilience.

Editorial·July 16, 2026·reads: 1,499

The National Export Promotion Agency (ANAPEX) and the youth-led enterprise Green Community Mind (GRECOM) spearheaded the initiative to modernize the sector. ANAPEX Director General Mike Tambwe Lubemba emphasized that establishing rigorous quality standards is the primary hurdle to securing a foothold in international markets.

Modernization efforts are already underway through GRECOM’s Nyuki Tech, an AI-driven platform that tracks hive health and productivity. The tool has reportedly boosted yields by 10 percent, while the Apicard identification system allows for better product traceability. By integrating solar energy into processing and manufacturing, the firm has slashed electricity costs by 60 percent.

This transition is bolstered by the African Development Bank Group’s YouthADAPT programme, which provided funding to GRECOM. Charlotte Eyong, a regional officer at the Bank, noted that supporting such local enterprises creates a blueprint for turning climate adaptation into tangible economic growth. The program has invested $5.4 million across 20 African countries, supporting nearly 10,700 jobs. With products ranging from honey to specialized wines coming from regions like Kivu and the Bateke Plateau, the forum showcased a sector shifting from subsistence to a scalable, sustainable engine for development.