De la apicultura fijista a la movilista: Políticas públicas y dinámicas de la modernización del sector apícola español (1867-1980)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the process of modernisation of beekeeping in Spain from 1867 to 1980. For this purpose and based on different historical sources such as beekeeping publications, historical statistics, normative documents, and archival documentation, we analyse the process of technological change derived from the appearance of new knowledge that made possible the gradual change from fixism beekeeping to mobilism in beekeeping. The paper presents the two beekeeping models and the public policies and initiatives implemented in Spain for the dissemination of these beekeeping innovations. Finally, the article analyses the main dynamics of the modernisation process in the beekeeping sector. It shows the increase in the number of mobilist hives and the gradual decline in the number of fixist hives, the changes in the geography of the sector and the production dynamics resulting from technological change with an increase in honey production.