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Mirko Ljubičić
Episode · #505

POSLOVNI ĐIR Mirko Ljubičić

Guest Mirko LjubičićHosted by Ojdana KoharevićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

The conversation begins with a stark contrast: the sweetness of honey set against the increasingly bitter reality faced by beekeepers. Mirko Ljubičić, president of the Association of Beekeeping Associations of Split-Dalmatia County, offers a direct look into the challenges confronting Croatian apiarists today. He describes an industry caught between the unpredictable forces of climate change and the frustrating inertia of policy-making. This discussion provides a glimpse into how a traditional, nature-dependent livelihood navigates both environmental shifts and bureaucratic hurdles. Readers will consider the often-overlooked intersection of natural cycles, economic pressures, and the critical role of thoughtful regulation in sustaining an essential agricultural sector.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
The proposed regulation requiring an "escort" for a vehicle transporting bees, without defining what an "escort" means, is a specific example of ill-conceived policy. Regulations often create more confusion than clarity when drafted without practical input from those they affect.
02
Porsche, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen groups proudly maintain their own apiaries, harvesting hundreds of kilos of honey for their employees, while a proposed Croatian regulation would force local beekeepers "two kilometers into the forest." Local regulations often lag global best practices, imposing restrictions that hinder rather than help an industry.
03
Croatia's national beekeeping program was replaced by an EU fund that increased total apiary funding by 10 million kuna, yet a new regulatory framework has been stalled for 30 days and counting. When policy shifts create a legislative vacuum, it freezes investment and growth, even when funding is available.
04
Fifteen years ago, a family could sustain itself with 100 beehives; today, due to climate change and other factors, that number has risen to 300, a scale difficult for a single family to manage. Environmental and economic pressures are rapidly escalating the minimum scale required for a traditional livelihood to remain viable, pushing smaller operations to the brink.
05
Climate change has shifted seasonal events, meaning what used to happen in May now occurs in June, demanding rapid adaptation from beekeepers. Rapid environmental shifts demand equally rapid policy responses; when bureaucracy falters, it saps beekeepers' energy from adapting to nature's changes.
06
The Croatian Beekeeping Association, despite being a large organization, did not share the draft regulations with local associations for input, forcing them to acquire the document through "various means." When representative bodies fail to consult their members on critical policy, they undermine their own legitimacy and the effectiveness of the proposed rules.
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