Development of Meliponiculture in Argentina, Ethnobiology, and Melissopalynology as Tools for Progress

In Argentina, some native stingless bees (NSB) are culturally important, given their nutritional, medicinal, and symbolic value. The relationship between the communities and the NSB has been long-standing, with an increasing interest and practice of meliponiculture as an alternative to collecting wild nests. In this chapter, we analyze the relationship between bees and human populations and the status of meliponiculture in Argentina. We expose the interinstitutional and legal organization establishing goals and regulating this productive system. Then, we analyze the relationship between the trophic resources of importance for bees and the uses assigned to these plants by the local population from melissopalynology, ecology, and ethnobiology in three regions. It is evident that, in addition to the diversity of plant resources, it is necessary to preserve natural ecosystems in good condition since those radically modified offer insufficient sources of honey. Besides, between 38% and 100% of the plant resources necessary for bees are used by local communities that compete with them; thus, shared use in the same territory should be planned. It is recommended to maintain the environmental context and the local culture to strengthen the production of these honeys.