Muğla pine honey will be traceable from hive to table via a QR code

The Pine Honey Tracking System, developed for Muğla pine honey—which holds a registered geographical indication—was introduced to the 50 beekeepers participating in the pilot program. The system will enable the entire production and distribution process of the honey—from the hive to the consumer—to be digitally tracked.

"Project to Improve the Quality and Standards of Muğla Pine Honey and Enhance Its Traceability"; Muğla Investment Monitoring and Coordination Presidency (YİKOB), the Muğla Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, the Muğla Beekeepers’ Association, the Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Muğla Commodity Exchange. YİKOB is contributing 80 percent of the project’s funding.

Honey will be identified via QR codes

The honey produced by the 50 beekeepers participating in the pilot program will be analyzed at the Food Analysis Laboratory of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University. Honey found to meet the criteria will be registered using tamper-proof, non-reusable QR code seals.

This will enable the tracking of the product’s origin and production process; the goals are to prevent adulteration, enhance product reliability, and increase the economic value of the producer’s high-quality honey. It is planned to offer the registered honey for sale through an auction process.

2,000 propolis traps delivered

At the meeting, a total of 2,000 propolis traps procured as part of the project were delivered to producers. The propolis collected using these traps will also be analyzed and transformed into high-value-added products, with the goal of diversifying beekeepers’ income.

Who attended the introductory meeting?

Fifty beekeepers and technical staff attended the meeting organized to introduce the project. The opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Songül Topal, Deputy Director of the Muğla Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.

Speakers at the meeting included Dr. Ahmet Esen, Acting Director of Guidance and Supervision at YİKOB; Bülent Karakuş, President of the Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Hurşit Öztürk, President of the Muğla Commodity Exchange; and Yılmaz Kaya, President of the Muğla Beekeepers’ Association. The presentation was given by the project coordinator, Veterinarian Alptuğ Demircan.

Aiming to Be a Model for Turkey

The goal is to transform the “Digital Traceability from Hive to Table” model established in Muğla into an infrastructure standard that can be integrated into honey production throughout Turkey in the future.