The bee is neither a domestic nor a wild animal, but something in between, a creature capable of developing relationships with humans without losing its freedom; or at least remaining in a condition of taking it back at all times.
(Plinio, Historia Naturalis)
Adopt a hive and protect bees: the 3Bee initiative
Bees. When confronted with this word, how do you react?
Many might be frightened: no one likes the sting of these insects.
Some, on the other hand, might be concerned: reports of bee die-offs, resulting in a loss of biodiversity, are unfortunately becoming more and more frequent.
Lastly, others might be fascinated by bees and their world of perfectly operating hives that, if carefully observed, arouse admiration.
We had the opportunity to speak with someone who, upon learning of the dramatic decrease of the bee population, decided to apply his skills and knowledge to fight this phenomenon. He is Niccolò Calandri, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of 3Bee, a company that employs technology to safeguard bees, through automated hive monitoring and diagnostic systems.
This innovative climate tech company has not only provided a service to beekeepers, but has also given the opportunity to help protect bees to those who know little about pollinating insects and technology, through initiatives such as “Adopt a beehive“, which allow to purchase, monitor and receive the honey produced. To learn more about these initiatives and 3Bee, we spoke personally with CEO Niccolò Calandri.
Interview with Niccolò Calandri, CEO of 3Bee
Hi Niccolò, I will start right away with a question about your sensor monitoring. Why is it an innovation?
We have been among the first in Europe to develop this kind of product, which allows monitoring the health of the bee colony even remotely. Our goal is not to maximize the production, but to ensure the environmental and animal well-being. Our management is regenerative, we do not provide the farmer with an increase in the production, but with a more efficient method to monitor the bees and to ensure their health and pollination. This pattern is at a higher risk because it is based on the future economics of sustainability.
How did you identify and map the beekeepers who collaborate with your projects?
We opened applications through social media, especially Facebook and Instagram. Among the approximately 3,500 beekeepers who initially applied, we carried out a gradual skimming, so that as of today there are only about 100 of them on our platform. They are virtuous beekeepers who comply with specific criteria of ethics and sustainability.
3Bee is now several years old. How have you changed over the years?
We have grown much more than we originally envisioned. Today we are a team of fifty people, far beyond what we expected. Managing so many people can be challenging at times, but it has allowed us to start many projects that we believe in.
Among these projects, a nectariferous tree can be adopted on the website, clarifying how much CO2 it can absorb and the number of bees fed. What is the process for calculating it?
We first start with scientific papers, either on the amount of CO2 absorbed by plants and how much nectar a certain type of bee produces on average. Data from scientific literature books on the subject and the most recent peer reviews are cross-referenced, and eventually the percentage reported on the website is calculated.
In addition, there is the possibility of purchasing and installing a bee house. The idea of having a bee house on the balcony may seem dangerous: is there any requirement for such a purchase or can anyone do it?
Those kinds of bees are the Osmia, or solitary bees, which do not sting and do not even produce honey. From a functional point of view, they are useless. We sell them as an educational project. They are a symbol, they do not need a special treatment because they hardly get sick, and you just need to place them in a sunny spot. For example, you can put them in your own garden or on a flowering balcony, where they can pollinate. Rather, we try to discourage people from buying honey bees as they can be very dangerous (e.g., they could sting some allergic neighbours), and if they are not properly managed, they do not provide an environmental benefit.
You offer many services to different kinds of clients: beekeepers, businesses, schools. Among these initiatives, which one do you hope will grow the most?
On the social level, we focus on school education, which does not generate an economic profit. As for the sale of the Osmia, there is an economic return. The bee houses are assembled by workers with disabilities: this is a social and environmental project. In addition, the initiatives in schools are environmental education programmes to raise awareness among children, and improve the impact on the atmosphere. These programmes are also a way to reach out to parents and therefore possibly to the companies we work with to invest in a sustainable transition.
In this respect: what can the world of bees teach a child today?
Cooperation, definitely. We tell children how these animals collaborate with each other without competition: a good example for coexistence in civilized society, too. Another important idea is the bee seen as a sentinel that monitors the environment for us.
The existence of companies like 3Bee, which are actively working to restrain the consequences of climate change, such as deforestation and biodiversity loss, remind us that the climate crisis can be countered every day. How? You do not need to be a beekeeper: just choose carefully which honey you place in your basket and, if you can, join projects that aim to inform and raise awareness among those who, for different reasons, know little about this subject. On the other hand, the sweetness and taste of the honey produced by respecting the timing of the bees are undoubtedly finer.
Literature graduated (UniMi), she is currently studying Environmental Humanities (UniVe). Hungry for stories, she loves writing about the environment and being provoked by people’s ideas. Determined and thorough, she likes to go beyond the apparent superficiality of facts. Her safe place is the library, but don’t be fooled: she is never punctual in returning books.
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