ST JAMES, Jamaica —  With artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforming the global workforce, President of the St James Bee Farmers Association, Dennis McKay, says beekeeping is one sector that remains firmly rooted in human hands, and he is determined to ensure that Jamaica’s next generation is equipped to tap into its potential.

McKay revealed on Monday that the association will be rolling out a programme of school visits and training sessions across St James this year, aimed at introducing young people to bee farming as a viable and sustainable livelihood.

“We’ll be doing some school training. We’ll be going through schools. We have that on our initiative — our committee is putting things together,” McKay said.

“We want to start training the younger persons coming up, and through these school visits we can teach them bee farming,” he added.

He was speaking during the handing over of a wax foundation mill valued at approximately $200,000, donated to the association by the St James Municipal Corporation through the mayor’s charity fund. The presentation took place at the corporation’s offices in Montego Bay.

Using the occasion to underscore the importance of practical, hands-on careers, McKay argued that beekeeping is one of the areas least threatened by advances in artificial intelligence.

“Nowadays with AI technology, people have to start going into businesses that AI cannot replace. AI can’t come in and replace this. AI can’t take the bee sting — but we can,” he quipped.

He added that innovation and practical skills must guide how Jamaica prepares its youth for the future.

“You have to be innovative at this time and be hands-on and think to facilitate our younger generation going forward in the 21st century — 2026 and beyond,” McKay said.

“We have to support the next generation by doing what we are doing as a foundation here — not just for us, but for everybody else,” he added.

Beyond the school initiative, the St James Bee Farmers Association is also planning to expand its community outreach with the staging of its annual Healthy Lifestyle Day, which McKay said is being targeted for Harmony Beach Park this year.

The association has been hosting the Healthy Lifestyle Day at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) office in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay.

The event, held in collaboration with RADA and the St James Health Department, is focused on strengthening the local apiculture industry, encouraging more Jamaicans to enter the sector, and promoting the health benefits of bee products.

— Horace Hines