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Jacqueline-et-Roland-Gastral Innovation Competition
This competition is open exclusively to registered congress participants.
This competition is named after Jacqueline and Roland Gastal, passionate and deeply committed professional beekeepers whose career has left a lasting mark on the profession.
As dedicated and universally respected union members, they led numerous battles to defend beekeeping, notably against the use of the Gaucho.
Their availability, their willingness to share, and their expertise extended far beyond the borders of Lot-et-Garonne.
For many years, Jacqueline was a driving force in the union and generously and convincingly passed on her knowledge to generations of beekeepers from all walks of life.
Associating their names with this competition is only natural.
It is a tribute to their commitment, their spirit of sharing, and their vision of a vibrant, supportive, and innovative beekeeping industry.
Proud of its expertise, values that still deserve to be shared with the entire profession today.
Article 1
On the occasion of the European Beekeeping Congress - Beecome, which will take place from October 1st to 4th, 2026 in Agen, UNAF and Abeille Gasconne are organizing a competition to reward practical skills, tips and tricks, and innovations in beekeeping practices, from apiary management to production and marketing. Innovation can be simple. Its interest and usefulness will be judged first and foremost, as well as its originality. The quality of the written presentation will be appreciated.
Article 2
The J.-et-R.-Gastal 2026 competition is reserved for registered beekeepers. Commercial entities (equipment manufacturers, retailers, etc.) are excluded from this competition.
Regarding innovation, candidates guarantee authorship of the invention.
Article 3
The jury will consist of 5 jurors representing beekeeping and present at the congress. The jury reserves the right to invite an external expert. The announcement of the results and the awards ceremony will take place during the evening of Saturday, October 3, 2026. The top three winners will receive a prize.
Article 4
Innovations will be presented by their authors in an anonymous text file (Word), illustrated with diagram(s) and digital photos so that they can be projected on the day of the results. A separate, personalized letter, referring to the innovation, will accompany the presentation. The report, titled only with the name of the innovation, in A4 format as a text file (Word), must specify the objective sought and achieved, the implementation technique and/or operating method, the advantages, disadvantages, or remaining difficulties: financial, technical, commercial.
Article 5
The magazine Abeille & Fleurs reserves the right to showcase, publish, and communicate the best innovations. The author submitting the application may not invoke confidentiality if they are participating in the competition.
Article 6
The application, in text format (Word), including the personal letter, the anonymous note and its diagrams, and the digital photos, must be sent by email before September 1, 2026, to the following email address: beecomeagen2026@beecomeagen2026.fr
Send to:
J.-et-R.-Gastal Competition
UNAF
5 bis, rue Faÿs • 94160 Saint Mandé
The deadline for receiving the photos is September 1, 2026. The applicant must ensure they receive confirmation of receipt within 48 hours. the shipment. Article 7: The innovation itself must be sent to the congress venue between August 1, 2026, and September 1, 2026, for display during the congress, either indoors or outdoors depending on its size. For delivery details, please contact Gabriel Peña by email (gabriel.pena@unaf-apiculture.info) or by phone at +33 6 48 50 75 79. The competition president is Jean-Marie Sirvins, an honorary member of UNAF. The winners will receive a beautiful basket filled with fine products from Southwest France and a beekeeping book. In addition, a feature on their innovation will be published in the magazine Abeilles & Fleurs.