The SBEES project, funded by the One Health Network Funds 2021/2022 and led by Dr. Mario Castro, highlights the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) in Latin America. These bees are key pollinators of native and tropical plants, while their products—honey, pollen, propolis, and wax—have long supported local livelihoods and indigenous traditions.

Today, stingless bees face severe threats from deforestation, urban expansion, pesticide use, intensive farming, and competition with exotic species. In response, meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping) is gaining relevance as a strategy for conservation, income generation, and cultural preservation.