This spring, news broke that Estonian honey received a globally unique DNA test, created by local scientists, which helps reduce fraud in the industry, protects the interests of consumers and producers, and supports the export potential of pure Estonian honey. Today, the first DNA-tested honey shipment from Viljandimaa honey producer Nordmel is on its way to Japan.

According to studies published by the European Commission in the spring of 2023, as much as 46 percent of imported honey was suspected of having syrup added, and of the 320 samples taken, there was reason to believe that 147 did not meet the requirements of the EU Honey Directive.

According to Tsubasa Yoshito, the project manager for the Japanese market at the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), Japan faces the same issue. Approximately 47,000 tons of honey are sold annually in Japan, of which as much as 45,000 tons are imported. 71% of the imported honey comes from China.

“Honey fraud is becoming an increasing problem, with fake and imported honey being sold as genuine and domestic. The introduction of DNA-tested honey would raise consumer suspicions about untested honey, creating conditions for more high-quality honey to enter the market,” said Tsubasa Yoshito. “Nordmel has proven that when a company is well-prepared, makes the necessary investments, and uses unique technology, it is possible to enter the market even in today’s difficult circumstances, where production costs are high and the yen is weak,” he added.

The overabundance of fake honey is driving honest beekeepers out of business

In August, at the invitation of the Estonian Association of Professional Beekeepers, the president of the European Professional Beekeepers Association, Bernhard Heuvel, visited Estonia. According to Heuvel, the situation in the European honey market became very difficult a couple of years ago when an unusually large amount of extremely cheap honey flooded the market. He believes the most likely reason for this is the rise of industrially produced fake honey.

“In the near future, our hopes rest largely on this test.”
Bernhard Heuvel, European Professional Beekeepers Association

“Fake honey has driven prices so low that honest beekeepers can no longer compete, and as a result, professional beekeepers are shutting down their operations,” Heuvel painted a grim picture of the European honey market. “We are currently fighting for survival, as fake honey is killing professional beekeeping worldwide,” added the president of the European Professional Beekeepers Association, expressing hope that DNA testing of honey will turn the tide in the spread of fake honey.

Since, in his view, fake honey producers are extremely skilled, the previous testing methods were unable to distinguish it from real honey. Now, however, Estonian scientists have developed a groundbreaking DNA method that can do so. “In the near future, our hopes rest largely on this test,” said the president of the European Professional Beekeepers Association.

A groundbreaking opportunity to regulate the honey market

According to Kaarel Krjutškov, head of the service laboratory at Celvia* (formerly the Competence Centre on Health Technologies) and one of the creators of the unique test, the development of the honey DNA test began five years ago with the problem raised by professional beekeepers. “I first heard about the beekeepers’ issue on the TV show ‘Pealtnägija,’ and the rest is history. In collaboration with hundreds of volunteer Estonian beekeepers, we created a database of Estonian honey, backed by the most modern and sensitive DNA analysis technology,” Krjutškov explains about the creation of the test.

He explains that the test gives each batch of honey a unique, fraud-resistant fingerprint or DNA profile. “The DNA analysis detects all sorts of plants, bacteria, fungi, and insects that honeybees and honey come into contact with. The DNA sequences of hundreds and thousands of species describe the composition of nectar plants and, among other things, allow for monitoring bee pathogens and parasites. Simultaneously, the DNA profile helps identify the product’s authenticity and origin, as the plants reveal the bee’s geographical area,” Krjutškov explains.

GOOD TO KNOW
*Celvia, formerly the Competence Centre on Health Technologies, is an accredited research institution and medical laboratory, whose new field of activity is food safety and related testing and services. Celvia grew out of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency’s technology development center program and has become a self-sustaining and technology-intensive company, acting as a link between scientific research and modern services.

According to the scientist, the honey DNA test works as a quality control measure. “An authentic product gets a fair certification, while fraudulently produced goods are exposed. I believe the honey quality control system will become a valuable tool for both wholesale and retail, ensuring fair competition.”

When asked if something similar has been invented elsewhere in the world, Krjutškov replies: “To our knowledge, there is no other honey test in the world that analyzes all the DNA present in the product and reflects the contents of honey as a natural product, from plants to the bee’s gut bacteria. As an independent laboratory, we must now wisely harness this potential—there is a need to create a reliable database covering all of Europe and major honey-exporting countries, while increasing the share of high-level laboratory services in Estonia.”

“Since humans cannot fake a honey DNA profile, this type of testing has immense potential to become a globally used standard. There are no technological barriers, as DNA technology and genetic testing are already widely used in medicine and forensic science,” the scientist adds.

The demanding Japanese client was ultimately convinced by the DNA test

For the Viljandi honey producer Nordmel, the summer months have been a time of intense work. Not only because fresh honey needed to be harvested, spun, and packaged, but also because they had been preparing for a long time to send the world’s first DNA-tested honey shipment to Japan.

“As an independent laboratory, we must now wisely harness this potential—there is a need to create a reliable database covering all of Europe and major honey-exporting countries, while increasing the share of high-level laboratory services in Estonia.”
Kaarel Krjutškov, head of the service laboratory at Celvia

“For our Japanese client, it is crucial that the products they sell meet the highest quality standards and are authentic,” says professional beekeeper and Nordmel’s director, Peeter Matson. According to him, it wasn’t enough for the company to assure this themselves—the Japanese client visited Estonia with their purchasing and quality teams, thoroughly familiarized themselves with, and inspected all of Nordmel’s work processes in great detail to confirm everything personally.

“They were very satisfied with what they saw, but the final confirmation of the honey’s authenticity came from the DNA testing method developed by Estonian scientists,” adds Matson, affirming that without the help of the state and scientists, they would not have reached the point where they are today.

“I consider the Estonian state an excellent partner for the beekeeping sector, without whom we would not manage. The state has created opportunities for investments through PRIA’s production investment support, helped improve the sector’s professionalism with beekeeping vocational training at Olustvere, and provided comprehensive support in finding new markets through the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS), enabling us to participate in international fairs and sales training,” Matson lists.

He also agrees with Celvia’s service lab director, Kaarel Krjutškov, regarding the future of honey testing. “Today, there are no global standards in the honey market to guarantee the authenticity of honey, which has given fraudsters an excellent opportunity to manipulate the market. The unique honey DNA test developed by our own scientists could easily become a new tool for market regulation, and if this method were brought to a global level, Estonian professional beekeeping could grow three to four times, with most of the production being exported,” Matson believes.

“Now, we just need to hold on a little longer until what has been done in Estonia expands across Europe and the markets become more regulated,” adds the head of Nordmel.

Are you interested in trading with Estonia? Enterprise Estonia is providing sourcing services for foreign enterprises. Contact Estonian export advisors or use our free e-consulting service to start trade with Estonia.