Innovative, Nature-Friendly Honey Production from BAÜN: Among the World's Best in Quality
Balıkesir University (BAÜN) has achieved significant success in environmentally friendly agriculture and beekeeping. Within the scope of a TÜBİTAK-supported project carried out at the Çağış Campus, an innovative nanosolution was developed, enabling the production of high-quality honey using entirely natural methods.
The study, developed jointly by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hakan Tavşanlı from our faculty, Prof. Dr. Seda Beyaz from the Faculty of Science and Letters, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gülşah Çelik Gül from Savaştepe Vocational School, is also supported by Novalabs Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., operating at Balıkesir Teknokent. The project, titled ‘Innovative Borate-Based Nanosolution Against Varroa and Greater Wax Moth,’ developed an environmentally friendly solution against the greatest threats to beekeeping.
Production began with 50 beehives at the Çağış Campus, yielding approximately 800 kilograms of natural honey. Thanks to the bees feeding on the campus's rich flora, the honey produced achieved ‘world-standard natural honey’ status in laboratory analyses, with a high proline value (500 mg/kg) and low sucrose content (below 2%). This result placed the honey among the top 20% of the highest quality products in the world. It was also certified that the nanosolution left no residue in the honey.
Associate Professor Hakan Tavşanlı stated that the aim of the project was to develop a solution that leaves no residue in nature, does not threaten bee health, and preserves honey quality against parasites, one of the greatest threats to beekeeping. He added that in the study conducted in an isolated area on campus, away from pollutants, the bees fed on rich and clean flora and produced record levels of honey. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tavşanlı stated that the analyses revealed a high proline value and low sucrose ratio, supporting the natural and polyfloral structure of the honey. He also reported that they had determined that the borate-based parasitic preventative nanosolution did not cause boron accumulation in the honey, enabling both healthy and high-quality honey production. Dr. Tavşanlı also emphasised that they believe the project will open a new path for sustainable and high-quality beekeeping in Turkey.
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