International Conference Competition for Honey and Innovation

Registration

To participate in the compition please click here:

First: Introduction

Given the importance of the beekeeping sector and its role in food security, biodiversity, and economic development, and in order to support beekeepers, producers, and innovators, and to encourage excellence, quality, and creativity, the Honey and Innovation Competitions will be held as part of the 16th International Conference of the Arab Beekeepers Union, which will take place in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from November 1st to 4th, 2026.

The competitions represent a specialized Arab platform to showcase outstanding products, innovations, and modern technologies in the beekeeping sector, and to promote positive competition and the exchange of expertise among beekeepers, producers, researchers, innovators, and other stakeholders in the sector.

Second: Competition Objectives

The competitions aim to:

1. Enhance the quality of honey and various bee products and encourage the application of best practices in their production and processing.
2. Promote a culture of quality and excellence among beekeepers and producers.
3. Encourage innovation in bee products and the development of new value-added products.
4. Support the use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in apiary management and enhance its efficiency and productivity. 5. Encouraging the development of food, cosmetic, and other industries based on honey and bee products.
5. Supporting innovators, entrepreneurs, and project owners specializing in the beekeeping sector.
6. Highlighting modern technologies, tools, and equipment that contribute to the development of beekeeping.
7. Encouraging innovations that consider bee health, environmental sustainability, and adaptation to climate change.
8. Enhancing marketing opportunities for outstanding products and innovations and promoting them.
9. Creating a competitive professional environment that contributes to the exchange of expertise and the advancement of the beekeeping sector regionally and internationally.

Third: Competition Categories

The honey and innovation competitions include the following categories:

1. Best Liquid Honey Competition
2. Best Crystallized Honey Competition
3. Best Honey in Combs Competition
4. Best Honey-Based Blend Competition
5. Best Cosmetic Product Based on Bee Products Competition
6. Innovation in Bee Products Competition
7. Smart Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Apiary Management Competition
8. Best photo competition in the field of bees and their products.

Fourth: Awards and Certificates of Excellence

Awards are awarded to the highest-rated entries in each category, as determined by the judging panel. These include:

1. The top five entries in the Liquid Honey category.
2. The top five entries in the Crystallized Honey category.
3. The top five entries in the Comb Honey category.
4. The top five entries in the Honey Blends category.
5. The top five entries in the Cosmetic Products Based on Bee Products category.
6. The top five innovations in bee products.
7. The best smart technologies and artificial intelligence applications in beekeeping and apiary management.
8. The best photographs related to bees and their products.

Certificates of Excellence are also awarded based on the final score of each entry, as follows:

• Gold Certificate: For entries scoring between 90.1% and 100%.
• Silver Certificate: For entries scoring between 80.1% and 90%.
• Bronze Certificate: For entries scoring between 70% and 80%.

The organizing committee may withhold any award or prize if entries do not meet the minimum approved standards of quality and excellence.

Fifth: Integrity and Impartiality

To ensure the highest levels of integrity, transparency, and impartiality:

• An independent judging panel will be formed, comprising experienced and qualified experts and specialists. No member of this panel may have any direct involvement or interest in the category they are judging.
• Samples, products, and projects will be evaluated according to publicly announced, standardized, and approved criteria established by both the organizing committee and the judging panel.
• Honey samples will be coded with specific numbers or symbols to ensure that the evaluation is conducted without revealing the participant's identity to the judges.
• Members of the judging panel are obligated to disclose any potential conflict of interest and refrain from evaluating any entry in question.
• Evaluation results and scoring records will be retained by the organizing committee.
• The judging panel's decision regarding the technical evaluation and ranking of results will be final, in accordance with these regulations.

Sixth: Evaluation Criteria for Liquid Honey, Crystallized Honey, and Honeycomb Comb

The total evaluation score is 100 points. The judging panel determines the final score distribution before the competition begins. The evaluation includes two main aspects:

• Laboratory evaluation according to the approved international specifications and standards for the category of tests (moisture content, fructose percentage, glucose percentage, total reducing sugars, sucrose percentage, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content, and diastase enzyme content) and any additional laboratory indicators approved by the technical committee according to the type of honey and the competition requirements.
• Sensory evaluation, which includes general appearance, color, aroma, flavor, taste, consistency, homogeneity, cleanliness, freedom from impurities and foreign matter, crystallization quality and uniformity in the crystallized honey category, and honeycomb quality, sealing percentage, wax integrity, and general appearance in the honeycomb category. The detailed distribution of the approved score for each criterion will be announced before the judging begins.

Seventh: Honey Blend Evaluation Criteria

The total evaluation score is 100 points and includes laboratory, sensory, and technical aspects, according to weights adopted by the technical committee. The evaluation criteria include:

• Safety and Quality: Results of required laboratory tests, including microbiological tests.
• Ingredient Quality: Quality of the honey and added ingredients and their suitability for the product.
• Nutritional Value: The nutritional value of the ingredients used and their complementarity.
• Flavor and Harmony: Balance of the honey taste with the added ingredients, ensuring no single ingredient is overpowering.
• Texture and Homogeneity: The blend's homogeneity and stability, preventing separation of ingredients that would affect its quality.
• Aroma: The quality and consistency of the aroma resulting from the honey and added natural ingredients.
• Overall Appearance: The product's attractiveness and the harmony of its components.
• Innovation and Added Value: The blend's distinctiveness and concept compared to traditional products.
• Packaging: The quality and design of the packaging and its suitability for preserving and maintaining the product's integrity.

Eighth: Evaluation Criteria for Cosmetic Products Based on Bee Products

Products are evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Formula and Ingredients: The extent to which the product relies on bee products such as honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and other permissible ingredients.
• Formula Quality: The consistency of the ingredients and their suitability for the product's intended purpose.
• Homogeneity and Stability: The product's consistency and the absence of separation of its components in a way that affects quality.
• Ease of Use: The product's suitability for the consumer and the method of application.
• Innovation and Distinction: The distinctiveness of the idea, formula, or presentation of the product.
• Quality and Safety: Compliance with health and safety requirements specific to cosmetic products.
• Packaging: Quality of design and protection of the packaging for ingredients from harmful factors such as light and heat.
• Sustainability: Use of appropriate and recyclable materials and packaging whenever possible.
• Market Value: The product's potential for development and commercialization.

Ninth: Criteria for Evaluating Innovation in Bee Products

Innovations are evaluated according to the following criteria:

• The degree of novelty and originality of the idea.
• The extent to which the innovation is related to the beekeeping sector and its products.
• The added value offered by the innovation.
• Solving a problem or fulfilling a real need in the market or sector.
• The quality of design and implementation.
• The use of modern technologies or methods.
• Quality, safety, and compliance with relevant requirements and specifications.
• Economic and commercial feasibility.
• The product's potential for development, expansion, and marketing.
• Sustainability and environmental impact.
• The quality of the product's presentation and visual identity.

Tenth: Criteria for Evaluating Smart Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Apiary Management

Submissions will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Technological Innovation and Originality
• The application of artificial intelligence and modern technologies to address real-world challenges in beekeeping.
• Creativity in design and technological solutions.
• Productivity: The extent to which the technology contributes to increased productivity or improved apiary management.
• Cost and Effort Reduction: The solution's ability to save time, labor, or resources.
• Ease of Use: The practical applicability of the technology to beekeepers.
• Applicability and Scalability: The applicability of the technology in different environments and apiaries.
• Economic Feasibility and Return on Investment.
• Bee Health and Safety: The technology does not have negative effects on bees or hive products.
• Adaptation to Climate Change: The innovation's contribution to addressing environmental and climatic challenges.
• Environmental Sustainability: Efficient use of resources and reduced environmental impact.
• Quality of the Prototype or Final Product: The innovation's readiness for practical application.

Eleventh: Photography Competition Evaluation Criteria

Submitted photographs will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Technical Quality and Clarity: Image resolution and clarity of the main subject, especially in macro photographs.
• Lighting: The quality of light use and the ability to reveal details.
• Color: Color balance, naturalness, and how well they serve the image.
• Composition and Framing: The balanced and attractive distribution of elements within the image.
• Angle: Choosing a distinctive angle that serves the subject.
• Originality: Presenting a unique artistic vision.
• Creativity and Innovation: The photographer's ability to approach the subject of bees in an innovative way.
• Relevance to the Subject: The extent to which the photograph relates to bees, beekeeping, bee products, or their environmental role.
• Expressive Value and Visual Impact: The photograph's ability to attract viewers and convey an idea, story, or message.
• Environmental and Educational Impact: Highlighting the importance of bees, pollination, and biodiversity, when these are part of the photograph's subject.

Twelfth: General Participation Requirements

• Participation in the competition requires payment of the full conference registration fee, whether or not accommodation is included. This fee does not include the daily subscription fee.
• Conference participants may submit more than one sample in the same category or in different categories, provided that the participation fee is paid separately for each sample.
• The electronic participation form must be completed and the required information entered accurately.
• Participants must adhere to the specified deadlines for submitting samples, products, or participation files.
• Participants may participate in more than one category, subject to the terms and fees specified for each category.
• Participants are responsible for the accuracy of the information and data submitted about the product or innovation.
• The organizing committee reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the competition requirements.
• The same product or sample may not be submitted in more than one category if the nature of the categories does not permit it, as determined by the technical committee.
• Participants are responsible for complying with all regulations and instructions related to shipping and importing products and samples into the country of analysis or hosting.
• Samples used in laboratory or sensory tests will not be returned after the evaluation process is complete.
• The organizing committee reserves the right to use images of the entries and the names of winning products for media coverage and promotion of the conference and competitions, acknowledging the owners when appropriate.

Thirteenth: Conditions for Honey Samples and Honey Blends

• Honey samples, blends, and honeycomb should be packaged in suitable, airtight containers designated for food use. At least two 250g containers of liquid honey, crystallized honey, and honey blends must be submitted, along with two containers of honeycomb.
• Samples must be submitted according to the instructions of the organizing committee and the accredited laboratory by the specified deadline.
• The required data and documents must be included with each sample, as per the participation form.

Fourteenth: Conditions for Cosmetic Products and Innovations

• Cosmetic products must be based primarily or substantially on one or more bee products. At least two containers of the product must be submitted unless otherwise specified by the organizing committee. The product's basic ingredients must be disclosed according to the requirements set by the committee.
• For innovations, a clear description of the idea, the problem it addresses, its mechanism of action, added value, and expected feasibility must be provided.
• The committee may request a prototype, a visual presentation, or supporting materials to evaluate the innovation.

Fifteenth: Smart Technologies and Artificial Intelligence Competition Requirements

Participants must submit:

• A clear description of the technology or system, the problem the innovation addresses, its operational mechanism, and its basic technical components. A clear statement of the role of artificial intelligence, if applicable, is also required, along with results or indicators demonstrating the technology's efficiency, if available. A statement of the technology's economic feasibility and applicability in apiaries is necessary, as well as its impact on bee health, the environment, and sustainability.

Sixteenth: Photography Competition Requirements

• The photograph must be taken by the participant, who must own the rights to it. The photograph must be related to bees, bee products, beekeeping, or the associated environment. Photographs with substantial alterations that change the nature of the scene will not be accepted. Basic technical adjustments, such as adjusting lighting, contrast, color, and cropping, are permitted as determined by the committee. Photographs containing a signature, watermark, or the photographer's name within the submitted image will not be accepted.
• The organizing committee will determine the file format, resolution, size, and submission method.
• The participant confirms that the photograph does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights or privacy of others.

Seventeenth: Honey Sample Delivery

Samples must be sent no later than October 25, 2026, to:

• Samples may be delivered in person or sent via shipping companies according to the instructions announced by the organizing committee.
• The participant is responsible for the secure packaging of the sample, shipping costs, and any associated fees or requirements.

Eighteenth: Registration

The electronic participation form must be completed via the official competition link:

Registration is not considered complete until all required information has been provided, fees have been paid, and the specific requirements for the chosen category have been fulfilled.

Nineteenth: Participation Fees

The participation fee is set at:

• US$130 per sample (honey, wax combs, honey blend, cosmetic product).
• US$80 each for the Best Innovative Product competition, the Best Smart Technology competition, and the Best Photo competition.

Payment is to be made to the following bank account details:

The transfer receipt must be retained and attached to the participation application according to the specified procedure.

Article 20: General Provisions

• The organizing committee reserves the right to update the competition's implementation procedures, provided that this does not compromise the principles of fairness and transparency.
• The committee reserves the right to request additional documents or information to verify the eligibility of any entry.
• The committee reserves the right to disqualify any entry proven to have submitted incorrect information.
• Receipt of an entry does not constitute final acceptance, as acceptance is subject to verification of compliance with the conditions.
• The organizing committee is not responsible for damage to samples resulting from improper packaging, transportation, or shipping conditions beyond its control.
• The participant is responsible for adhering to the regulations pertaining to the shipping of samples and products.
• All entries are subject to the provisions of these regulations and the executive instructions issued by the organizing committee.
• Submitting a participation application constitutes the participant's acknowledgment of having read these regulations and agreeing to their provisions.