Oleksiy Losyev’s beekeeping journey is a testament to how passion, expertise, and meeting the right person at the right time can merge to shape a fulfilling career. Now in a pivotal apicultural role with Mānuka Health as apiary technical coordinator, based out of Te Awamutu, Jessie Trustum traces Losyev’s journey from student, then professor, in his native Ukraine, to a more practical role – on the other side of the world.
By Jessie Trustum
His story begins not as a young lad looking to rake in some hard cash over summer, but in the classrooms and laboratories of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, where he first encountered the fascinating world of the honey bee in 2003.
At the time, the university was the only in the country to have a beekeeping department. That gave it a unique advantage, not just for the academia, but for its generous set-up, complete with beehives and necessary equipment. It provided opportunity to combine theory with practice, allowing students like Losyev to delve into studying honey production, bee selection, and genetics.
It was in this environment – thanks to a certain Professor – that Losyev’s initial fascination with honey bees evolved into a deeper commitment, in which both scientific theory and practical beekeeping have played an important role. The department’s hands-on approach provided a practical understanding of beekeeping, and it was during these years that his passion for the field was set – like propolis between two frames.
With Thanks to Prof. Polishchuk
All of this comes down to an encounter with Professor Viktor Polishchuk, the head of the beekeeping department at the time. Prof. Polishchuk had profound insights into the world of honey bees and their evolutionary significance which impacted the young man deeply. The professor’s ability to explain complex biological and genetic concepts through the lens of bee behaviour and survival offered a unique perspective that resonated with Losyev and “opened his eyes to bee breeding, genetics and how it relates to life”. He was taught bee biology and sociology alongside human versions of the same subjects, giving space to recognise similarities and take advice from the ways bees have learned to work together socially and how they tend to concentrate on their own “flight range”.
Polishchuk’s influence was pivotal in shaping Losyev’s career path. The professor’s belief in the untapped potential of beekeeping and his philosophical approach to understanding life through the evolution of bees inspired Losyev to pursue beekeeping as more than just a profession, but as a quest to strive for finding out the unknown.
A Blossoming Career
After completing his studies, Losyev’s career in beekeeping set off. He grew from an assistant professor to taking Polishchuk’s place as the head of the beekeeping department at the University, earning scientific degrees and awards along the way. His work focused on improving colony productivity and expanding the range of products derived from honey bees.
During this time the department also created the “Khmelnytskyi” an interbreed of Ukrainian bees, which was officially recognized in Ukraine – a huge achievement in the field. This work signals Losyev’s commitment in advancing beekeeping practices and enhancing the economic traits of colonies.
Alongside these contributions, he gained valuable experience in the commercial beekeeping sector in Ukraine. His roles varied from advisor to director of one of the country’s largest beekeeping companies – 1500 hives, in a country where many businesses have only around 100. This hands-on experience in both organic and traditional beekeeping methods strengthened his understanding of the industry and prepared him for future challenges he was yet to meet.
A New Chapter: Beekeeping in New Zealand
In 2018, seeking new challenges, the Ukrainian made the big move to New Zealand where he discovered a beekeeping industry quite different to that which he knew back home. The discovery of mānuka honey’s unique properties had revolutionized the honey industry in New Zealand, presenting new opportunities and challenges that he had not had to work with or think about before.
“Even though their history of working with bees is long, beekeepers in Europe think they have a lot of experience and they can easily do it in New Zealand, but New Zealand is further ahead and has better processes in all aspects of beekeeping,” Losyev says.
Working at Mānuka Health, Losyev has found a platform to apply his extensive knowledge and experience. As an apiary technical coordinator, he oversees a plethora of responsibilities, from mentoring beekeepers, developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), to managing the breeding and queen raising programmes.
A Day in the Life:
A typical day for the technical coordinator is a blend of many different areas. He engages closely with his team of beekeepers, providing guidance and support when he can, while striving for a well-rounded working environment. His role involves developing and refining SOPs to ensure compliance and efficiency within industry standards.
Moving to an English speaking country, when it is not your first language, is challenging and coming from a monocultural country there are many different cultural factors. However, Losyev says he found that reminding himself that he was/is a professor, and that he is a good teacher, helped. Over time Losyev has learned how to be diplomatic, learned English steadily and put effort into learning how cultural factors influence people’s decisions. Those lessons have all helped immensely, he says.
Collaborating with the likes of Mānuka Health’s national apiculture strategy manager, Losyev ensures that hive management practices meet industry requirements. He is also deeply involved in the research and development of innovative beekeeping techniques, striving to enhance honey production and overall operational effectiveness with the focus being around “quality, quality, quality! And everything around quality queens”.
More to Learn
Losyev’s journey from Kyiv to New Zealand shows a commitment to striving for untouched waters and a strong passion for both the scientific and practical aspects of beekeeping, as well as the drive to establish unmarked ground and to improve the industry.
When the Ukrainian arrived in New Zealand, one of his first questions in beekeeping was “what are the exact species of bees here in New Zealand and what are their genetic characteristics?”. He was surprised to find that there was a substantial lack of research done at that time and since then has taken the time to look into this extensively which, all going well, will be presented to industry in the coming years.
From its beginnings in a lab in Kiev, to Mānuka Health’s thousands of beehives spread across two South Pacific isles, Losyev’s story has been guided by his inspiration to blend scientific knowledge with practical beekeeping experience. And, as his continues to contribute to the success of Mānuka Health, the broader apiculture industry in New Zealand should follow, as it has in Ukraine.
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