Beekeeping is the practice of caring for and maintaining colonies of honeybees in order to harvest honey, beeswax, and other bee-related products. Beekeepers typically provide bees with suitable hives, food, and water, and may also manage bee health and prevent diseases. Beekeeping can be done on a small scale by hobbyists or on a larger commercial scale for the production of honey and other bee products. This practice is important for pollination of crops and plants and has been practiced for thousands of years. Research in beekeeping focuses on improving bee health, productivity, and honey quality, as well as developing sustainable beekeeping practices to combat declining bee populations.