Becoming the Beekeeping Capital of Chile: ENAPI 2026 Begins in San Fernando

As the city of San Fernando in Chile prepares to host the 2026 edition of the National Beekeeping Meeting (ENAPI), it is taking firm steps toward becoming the country's beekeeping capital. Scheduled to take place between 30 July and 1 August, the event will be held across various venues in the city, including the Municipal Theatre, the Assembly Hall, and a large marquee to be set up in front of the municipal building. Launched in 2023 by the export company Natural Bee, this initiative brought together only 40 beekeepers in its first year, but continued to grow, reaching 500 registered participants and approximately 800 visitors in 2025. At the fourth event to be held this year, organizers aim to exceed one thousand visitors, planning to turn San Fernando into a national and international beekeeping hub. The increasing professionalization of beekeeping activities in the region and its contribution to regional development constitute one of the focal points of the event.

The event carries the support of the San Fernando Municipality for the second consecutive year and the sponsorship of the Ministry of Agriculture through its INDAP, SAG, and FIA agencies. Mayor Pablo Silva Pérez emphasized that the event is an internationally recognized meeting that combines academic innovation with the work of local beekeepers. Silva Pérez stated that such organizations are vital for the local economic development of the town, inviting everyone to a program that will include cooking classes and entertaining activities where honey and honey products can be tasted. He also stated that strengthening local entrepreneurship is their priority to transform San Fernando into a high-impact event hub. According to the mayor's statements, ENAPI aims to have a direct impact on commerce, hospitality, and gastronomy thanks to a joint effort with the Local Economic Development Directorate.

Víctor Valdebenito, the pioneer of ENAPI and Production Manager at Natural Bee, detailed the reasons why San Fernando was chosen as the permanent home for the event. Valdebenito, who stated that they preferred the city because it is their own region and that they aim to decentralize beekeeping activities, emphasized that a large portion of the honey produced in Chile is obtained precisely in the O'Higgins Region. This geographical advantage places San Fernando in a strategic position for the beekeeping sector. Valdebenito also expressed his belief that the new edition will represent a significant leap in the technical and scientific development of the event. He added that the professionalization of the sector under the new law, improving traceability and bee health to protect Chilean honey, is currently the biggest challenge.

Standing out with its innovative and scientific aspect, this year's event will incorporate two brand new and first-time events into the program. The first of these will be the 1st Beekeeping Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair, organized for students of agricultural schools and technical high schools in the region. The second will be the 1st Beekeeping Research Congress, which will bring together seven national universities, two international experts in bee health, and approximately 30 studies presented by academics and postgraduate students. Encouraging scientific collaboration at this level is seen as a major step toward the modernization and sustainability of beekeeping practices in the region. The research presented at the Congress is expected to bring innovative solutions to current problems in the sector.

Additionally, the program will feature the participation of prominent figures specializing in bee health and honey tasting from countries such as Germany, Uruguay, and Argentina. Activities prepared by chefs from the French Le Toque Blanche association and local gastronomy entrepreneurs will offer visitors the opportunity to experience the role of honey in culinary culture. Along with all these innovative steps, San Fernando is definitely strengthening its goal of becoming the beekeeping capital of Chile and a point of reference for Latin America by showcasing a meeting that integrates science, innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional development. The event, which is expected to attract intense interest from visitors, is also of great importance as it will provide a serious boost to the economic vitality of the region. ENAPI 2026 will be a milestone for the region in terms of discussing studies that will shape the future of the beekeeping sector.