Beekeeping Regulation in Chile: A Case Study on Gaps, Opportunities, and Challenges for Honey Bee Protection

Agricultural intensification and the widespread use of pesticides have exerted long-term pressures on honey bees, negatively affecting their survival, abundance, and immunity. Understanding the perceptions of beekeepers and farmers is essential to identify collaborative actions and assess whether existing regulations provide adequate protection for bee health. Laws and regulations play a crucial role in managing apicultural health risks; however, their effectiveness depends on how well they align with ecological realities and policy objectives. This study investigates whether Chile’s regulatory frameworks provide sufficient protection for honey bees by identifying key gaps and opportunities, particularly regarding pesticide use in agriculture. A mixed-methods analysis was applied to a sample of beekeepers from southern Chile—considering variables such as gender, education level, and regulatory awareness—and complemented with a review of legal documents and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. Findings show that although Law No. 21,489 represents an important step toward formalizing beekeeping and reducing pesticide-related risks, its scope remains limited by weak enforcement capacity, scarce institutional resources, and insufficient regulation of systemic pesticides. Strengthening environmental governance and updating the regulatory framework through greater inter-institutional coordination, beekeeper participation, and effective control mechanisms are essential to reconcile agricultural production with pollinator conservation and ecosystem sustainability.