The tiny monarchs shaping Estonia’s honey (opens in new tab)

Estonia’s beekeepers are combining old rural traditions with modern genetics, raising queen bees that could help hives survive harsh northern winters and thrive in a changing climate. In Estonia, where ancient forests give way to bogs, meadows and small farms, beekeeping has long been part of rural life. The country’s northern climate is not an easy one for bees: the winters are long, the summers brief and the main nectar season passes quickly. Yet Estonia is home to thousands of beekeepers, ...