Honey production in Malta plays out on a small island with a tightly mixed landscape. Beekeepers work across fields, garrigue and settlements that sit close together, yet they are expected to deliver a product with a clear representation of the place, and one of these is Maltese wild thyme honey. The main challenge lies in making sure that the bees forage mainly from the flowers of wild thyme in such a tightly-knit landscape.

Drones and artificial intelligence make that challenge surmountable. Drone surveys and machine learning can convert thousands of overlapping images into maps that show thyme cover and thyme’s potential competitors. This study asks whether Malta can realistically and sustainably support monofloral wild thyme honey (honey made mostly from thyme nectar), and if so, where. By combining drone surveys, multispectral imaging, GIS and supervised machine learning, the team searched for thyme-exclusive conditions during the early dry-summer window (end of May to early July). Focusing on the Mellieħa-Manikata area, the analysis identified an approximately 8-kilometre zone where thyme appeared to be the dominant flowering species during bloom.

Biological and geographic constraints on mono floral honey

Honey bees respond to nectar rewards, not to human labels such as "thyme honey". Most foraging occurs within a few kilometres of the hive, yet bees can travel to around 4.5 kilometres and sometimes approach 5 kilometres. In Malta, a circle of that size usually crosses multiple habitat types and land uses. Even where thyme dominates, other nectar sources can occur along field margins, gardens or disturbed ground, creating naturally multifloral honeys.

This means the true botanical origin of honey depends on spatial context: it is not enough to have thyme near the hive; competing melliferous plants must be absent, or negligible, within reach during the key weeks of nectar flow. Field walks rarely cover an entire foraging radius at fine detail, and flowering can change quickly. Drone mapping and AI classification close that gap by surveying large areas rapidly and classifying flowering resources consistently across the whole map.

Research collaboration and study objectives

The work was developed through collaboration between the Biodiversity and Ecology Research Group (BERG) at the University of Malta and the Intelligent Agriculture and Livestock Applications Laboratory (Intala Lab) at Isik University in Turkiye, within a wider effort to apply ICT tools to apiculture. The partnership combined local ecological knowledge with expertise in sensing, analytics and applied machine learning. This was done though the project known as ‘Bee-Optech4Honey’, funded by Xjenza Malta and TUBITAK.

The Maltese objective was straightforward: determine whether any area could support monofloral Maltese wild thyme honey based on the spatial availability of nectar sources across a bee's foraging range. The team aimed to produce decision-ready outputs that can inform hive placement and support monofloral labelling.

Methods overview: Drone surveys, multispectral imaging, and GIS analysis

Surveys were flown in June, when Maltese wild thyme is in bloom and produces a strong visual and spectral signal. Mapping during bloom improves separability for both human interpretation and machine learning, and it increases the chance of detecting any competing melliferous blooms that could influence honey during the same period.

A drone equipped with a DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral camera captured imagery in visible and infrared bands (DJI, Mavic 3 Multispectral specifications). Multispectral data add diagnostic information beyond standard RGB photographs because plants and flowers reflect light differently across wavelengths. The imagery was processed using photogrammetry to produce georeferenced orthomosaics and digital elevation models (DEMs), creating a map-like surface where each pixel is tied to coordinates.

Supervised machine learning was used to map thyme distribution. Labelled examples of flowering thyme were used to train a deep learning classifier to recognise thyme-specific spectral and textural patterns, and the model was applied across the orthomosaic to generate a classified thyme layer. GIS analyses then evaluated whether alternative melliferous resources occurred within bee-relevant distances, translating classification into forage-zone evidence.

Key findings: A unique thyme-only zone in Mellieħa

The drone-AI pipeline produced a result with direct operational value. In the Mellieħa-Manikata region, classification outputs indicated an approximately 8-kilometre zone where Maltese wild thyme was detected as the only melliferous flowering species during the survey window. Other vegetation occurred, but competing nectar-producing blooms were not observed within that mapped area for that period.

The key feature is scale and continuity. A thyme-rich patch does not guarantee monofloral honey, but a thyme-only landscape large enough to contain a full foraging radius changes the odds decisively. If colonies are placed near the centre of the mapped zone, a typical foraging radius of up to around 4.5 kilometres, and even the upper bound near 5 kilometres, can remain largely inside a landscape where bees have no alternative nectar to choose during bloom. The result is a strong ecological basis for monofloral honey grounded in mapped forage availability.

Implications for honey provenance and certification

Strong provenance claims link a product to the environment that produced it. Laboratory analysis can characterise honey after harvest, but it does not always show what resources were available to the bees while nectar was being collected. Drone and AI mapping fills that gap by documenting the forage landscape within reach of a colony at the relevant time.

In practical terms, the thyme-only zone functions like a natural provenance envelope. When colonies are placed centrally and managed during the thyme flowering period, the monofloral claim can be supported by an evidence chain: timed drone surveys, georeferenced orthomosaics, AI classification layers quantifying thyme cover, and GIS analyses demonstrating that the foraging circle sits inside a thyme-only landscape. This creates a transparent, repeatable record that can complement laboratory verification and strengthen certification discussions.

Land use considerations and policy relevance

The findings have a clear policy message: in this case, hive placement is critical. Colonies placed near the edge of the thyme-only zone can forage beyond it, increasing exposure to alternative nectar sources. Colonies placed nearer the centre keep the foraging radius within the mapped envelope, preserving the ecological conditions that favour monofloral production.

This creates an opportunity for evidence-based site designation. Instead of treating beekeeping sites as interchangeable, authorities can recognise that some locations have unique forage properties that directly influence product character. The drone-AI pipeline also offers a monitoring tool: repeat flights can confirm whether thyme-only conditions hold across seasons, rainfall variation or land-use changes, allowing guidelines to be updated with fresh evidence.

Broader significance for Malta's agricultural and cultural landscape

This work illustrates how modern sensing can support traditional products by making their ecological foundations visible. Maltese wild thyme honey has cultural meaning, and drone plus machine learning methods translate that meaning into spatial criteria that can be mapped, communicated and revisited.

The same approach is adaptable to other origin-linked foods and crop-pollinator systems: map resources at the right time, classify them with transparent models, and use GIS to connect maps to real foraging dynamics. For Malta, where space is limited and land-use pressure is high, targeted, data-led strategies can focus support on places where the ecological conditions genuinely favour monofloral production.

Conclusion: A data driven path to authentic Maltese thyme honey

The Mellieħa-Manikata study shows that monofloral Maltese wild thyme honey can be supported by spatial evidence. By surveying flowering resources using drone-borne multispectral imaging, processing imagery into orthomosaics and DEMs, and applying supervised machine learning within a GIS framework, the team identified an approximately 8-kilometre zone where Maltese wild thyme was the only melliferous flowering species detected during early summer.

Given known honey bee foraging distances, colonies placed centrally within this thyme-only zone would be expected to forage almost exclusively on thyme during bloom, providing a strong ecological basis for monofloral origin. For policymakers, the implication is practical: enabling controlled colony placement in this specific area is a targeted decision supported by a method that can be repeated over time to verify that forage conditions remain suitable.

Information and image source:

Author: Mark Mifsud
Editors: David Mifsud, Matthew Calleja

Honey bees, along with other pollinators (such as butterflies, solitary bees, etc.), are essential to our food supply; the great contribution they make to the pollination of flowering plants is vital for farming as most agricultural crops require this insect pollination to produce fruit. But, as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of droughts and heatwaves, the natural signs of Spring appear earlier in the year, further threatening the survival of honey bees and other pollinators.  The BeeSustain project (Integrative Modelling for Enhanced Beekeeping Carrying Capacity), a collaborative research initiative led by the University of Malta's Biodiversity and Ecology Research Group (BERG), and is funded by the Xjenza Malta Research Excellence Programme (REP) 2024. The project aims to address these pressing concerns by testing new and innovative approaches to improve beekeeping sustainability and safeguard bee populations.

BeeSustain is developing a specialised system to improve the efficiency of beekeeping. This pioneering project combines several advanced techniques, including the first-ever identification of pollen in Malta using DNA analysis, honey bee gut microbiota analysis, drone imagery, and weather data. The project aims to identify the best hive locations and ideal environmental conditions for honey production. This will revolutionise traditional beekeeping practices and help safeguard bee populations under changing environmental conditions.

BeeSustain is aligned with wider efforts to conserve the Maltese honey bee, Apis mellifera ruttneri. Previous research by BERG demonstrated that the Maltese honey bee is better adapted to local conditions than imported breeds, such as Apis mellifera ligustica, showing higher survival rates and lower rates of infestation by Varroa, a parasitic mite that passes on diseases and causes the deaths of many honey bee colonies. BeeSustain is building on this biological insight with cutting-edge modelling to support local beekeepers, protect native bee populations, and sustainably boost the vital pollination services that bees provide.

The project's focus on climate-smart beekeeping aligns with national, European Union, and global priorities, supporting Malta's drive towards sustainable development and economic diversification. It contributes directly to the strategic aims of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Pollinators (2035) and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to 2030.

An Innovative Approach to Apiculture
BeeSustain aims to tackle the significant impact on honey bee health and productivity from environmental challenges like climate change, habitat loss, and shrinking wildflower areas. The study is centred on an apiary in Manikata, where BeeSustain will apply novel approaches to achieve its goal:

• Comprehensive Biological Analysis: The project will use DNA analysis of bee gut microbes, pollen, and plants to understand the specific flowers bees prefer in the Manikata area. 

• Applied Environmental Imaging: Using images from drones equipped with special sensors, the project will create a map of the area to identify the best hive locations. This will ensure each apiary's foraging area, with a radius of up to 4-5km, covers the maximum amount of natural habitat, which in turn maximizes honey production.

• Real-Time and Future Climate Assessment: The project will combine data from a weather station installed near the hives with data on honey production to understand the ideal weather conditions for hive productivity. This will be combined with climate model data to project how weather conditions may change in the future.

Progress and Future Impact
Significant progress has been made in the early phases of the project, including the establishment of the test apiary and weather station. Every 15 days, specialized collection traps (known as pollen traps) are installed at the narrow entrances of the hives. These are designed to gently dislodge pollen from the bees as they enter, allowing the researchers to collect pollen without harming the bees. Protocols for the DNA analysis and for a Citizen Science campaign have been developed and initiated, and efforts are underway to recruit citizen scientists to gather data on flowering plants and bee activity. Biological sampling of pollen and flowering plants has also started to identify bee food sources and assess their health.

By the end of the project, BeeSustain aims to deliver a prototype decision-support tool to help beekeepers to choose the best sites for bee colonies, anticipate threats to their bees, and plan for healthier bees and higher productivity. The project is laying the groundwork for future real-time monitoring systems that will include data from sensors, drones, and microbial analysis to support the sustainability of beekeeping.

BeeSustain was recently featured at the University of Malta Research Expo 2025, showcasing its interdisciplinary approach to environmental modelling and beekeeping. This project works at the intersection of environmental science, apiculture, and technology, offering a scientifically grounded solution to improve beekeeping sustainability and protect vital pollination services.

For more information, visit the BERG website and Facebook page.

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The University of Malta has successfully concluded the Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS) project which is a major initiative exploring how renewable energy and advanced storage can power cleaner transportation. Led by Prof. Ing. John Licari from the Department of Electrical Engineering, the project was supported through the SINO-MALTA Fund 2023 Call, strengthening scientific collaboration between Malta and the People’s Republic of China.

The research focused on how solar energy, batteries and green hydrogen can work together to electrify mobility while reducing strain on the electrical grid. The study involved the modelling and control of an Electro-Hydrogen HESS-based microgrid system to optimise energy management. A schematic block diagram of the microgrid system is presented in Figure 1. The microgrid integrates the PV generation, a battery energy storage system (BESS), and a PEM electrolyser, all interconnected via a 1.5 kV DC bus.

The proposed Hybrid Energy Storage System integrates rooftop solar photovoltaic generation, a BESS providing evening EV charging, a hydrogen electrolyser running on surplus solar energy and an energy management algorithm to coordinate all energy flows. Figure 2 illustrates the coordinated operation zones of the Electro-Hydrogen HESS-based microgrid.

Simulations based on real solar and industrial load data produced excellent outcomes and achieved all the following objectives: 

• Electric vehicle charging powered primarily by onsite solar

• No grid power exported 

• Green hydrogen produced from excess energy

• Stable and resilient operation under fluctuating conditions

The results obtained confirm the ability to support both electrified transport using and future hydrogen mobility using solar energy, BESS and electrolysers. In addition, this was achieved by making efficient use of renewable energy and without straining the electrical grid.

With the research phase successfully completed, the path for future work includes building a laboratory based system using hardware in the loop testing. 

The HESS project brought together expertise from the University of Malta, including Prof. Inġ. John Licari who led the project, Prof. Alexander Micallef, Prof. Inġ. Maurice Apap and Dr. Salah Eddine Rhaili. The work described in this article was carried out as part of the HESS (SINO-MALTA-2023-03) project which was financed by XJENZA Malta and the Ministry for Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST), through the SINO-MALTA Fund 2023 (Science and Technology Cooperation).

Information and images source:

🔗 HESS Project: https://www.um.edu.mt/projects/hess/
🔗 Department of Electrical Engineering: https://www.um.edu.mt/eng/ele/
🔗 Prof. Ing. John Licari: https://www.um.edu.mt/profile/johnlicari

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2026

The two winners of the PRIMA Award for Women Greening Food Systems (2025 edition) are Kaoutar Aboukhalid (Morocco) and Andrea Abad Bartolome (Spain).

These women are driving change, transforming agriculture, and championing sustainability across the Mediterranean.  

In the mountains of Morocco, a precious plant is vanishing. Dr. Kaoutar Aboukhalid is working to save it, one community at a time. As one of the two winners of the PRIMA Award for Women Greening Food Systems in the Mediterranean, Dr. Aboukhalid’s MOROREGEN project demonstrates that science, local knowledge, and women’s leadership can help reverse biodiversity loss.

Meet Dr. Kaoutar Aboukhalid, one of the two winners of the PRIMA Award for Women Greening Food Systems in the Mediterranean.

Click here to read her full story

In the heart of the Mediterranean, abandoned farmland and water scarcity threaten the future of local food systems. Through Terra Viva Ibiza, Andrea Abad Bartolome is demonstrating how regenerative agriculture, smart water management, and farmer-led innovation can restore soils, strengthen communities, and build climate resilience.

Click here to read her full story

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Imagine breaking a bone so severely that a piece is missing. Or imagine recovering from bone cancer, only to be left with a gap your body cannot heal on its own. Today, patients in these situations often rely on metal implants that stay in the body forever or require a second surgery to remove.

OsteoMag-3D is an international partnership that brings together Maltese and Chinese researchers with one shared goal: to create patient-specific bone implants made from a biodegradable magnesium alloy. These implants, often called scaffolds, act as temporary bone substitutes in situations where patients are left with missing bone, such as after bone cancer treatment or when fractures fail to heal. They support new bone growth and gradually dissolve as healing progresses. Over time, they are replaced entirely by natural bone, eliminating the need for a second surgery to remove the implant.

To ensure each patient gets the right fit, OsteoMag-3D uses advanced 3D-printing technology (Figure 1) to customise the implants. This is not the type of 3D printer found at home. Instead, it relies on a high-precision method called Laser Powder Bed Fusion, where a focused laser beam melts extremely fine magnesium powder layer by layer to form a tailored implant with excellent accuracy.

The project brings together four main institutions. From Malta, the University of Malta leads the initiative under Prof. Inġ. Joseph Buhagiar, working closely with consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Ryan Giordmaina from Mater Dei Hospital. Their Chinese partners are Southeast University, led by Prof. Jing Bai, and Jiangxi University of Science and Technology under Prof. Youwen Yang. This collaboration combines expertise in materials engineering, mechanical engineering, medical science, and clinical practice.

Magnesium is an exciting material for scaffolds. It behaves similarly to natural bone, is biocompatible, and even releases by-products that can encourage healing. But magnesium also has its issues. Placed inside the body, it can degrade too quickly, vanishing before the bone has fully healed. Its breakdown also produces hydrogen gas, which can create unwanted pockets around the implant. OsteoMag-3D researchers are developing new surface coatings to slow and control this process.

Although the technology is highly promising, it remains in the research stage, and the OsteoMag-3D implant is not yet available on the market. Before any patient can receive such an implant, it must undergo rigorous laboratory testing, clinical trials, and regulatory approval. This process is long and expensive; but essential. Close collaboration between engineers and orthopaedic surgeons ensures that the technology will be safe, effective, and suitable for future clinical use.

The OsteoMag-3D project represents a promising step forward in orthopaedics, with the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for patients who require a bone substitute due to injury or disease. The project receives funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (2025YFE0110100) and Xjenza Malta through SINO-MALTA-2024-11 (Science and Technology Cooperation).

Visit the below link to watch the video and read further.

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