Nature's Nectar Honey

Traditional beekeeping methods in Zambia kill at least one local, flower-producing tree for each hive produced. The growing demand for forest honey has led to an increase in this destructive practice, putting the future of honey production in Zambia at risk for future generations. Nature's Nectar produces and distributes sustainably produced beehives that last for 20+ years, compared to the 2- to 3-year lifespan of traditional bark hives. This technology shift towards viable and long-lasting beehives allows for the protection and preservation of bees and their natural environment. Improved hives also produce high-quality honey that provides an impactful income for beekeepers. The Nature's Nectar model can be replicated in any honey producing area of the world as a means of protecting bees and the environment as well as providing a sustainable income source to rural farmers.

Zambia currently has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world with around 1.5% of forests disappearing every year. With 60% of the country classified as forest area, approximately 300,000 hectares of land are affected annually. Deforestation is closely linked to agricultural land clearing practices and charcoal production, with beehive production contributing more and more each year. The export market for Zambian honey has increased by over 700% in the past 5 years, and this trend is expected to continue. Independent beekeepers used to keep 10 to 20 bark hives for home consumption. These same farmers now have upwards of 400 to 600 beehives each to meet this new demand, with every hive being replaced every 2-3 years. The most sought after trees to make traditional bark beehives are the same trees that bees forage on to produce honey. If a sustainable solution of beekeeping is not introduced, Zambia risks losing the practice of honey production in the coming years.  The Nature's Nectar model protects 50,000 + hectares of local woodland that would have been cut to produce hives by supplying sustainably-produced, long-lasting beehives. 

Nature’s Nectar’s solution to this problem is a technology shift to modern, Top Bar beehives. Nature's Nectar produces and distributes these improved hives locally and makes them of pine, a material that lasts 20+ years and does not take from the local forests. These hives use similar methods as traditional hives with the same hanging and baiting techniques. The only behaviour change required from this technology switch is a small change in the harvesting technique. This technique also helps to protect the bees. This model is simple and effective, and not only produces higher quality honey than bark hives, but improves the safety of both the beekeeper and the bees. Another improved technology in our model is the use of a data tracking system to record all hive production information and socio-economic impacts on our farmers. This technology shift also makes beekeeping more accessible to women by removing the long-distances and the risks associated. This allows our model to be more inclusive of women in a traditionally male-dominated practice, which is why we require 50% of farmers to be women.

Nature's Nectar works with the most rural communities in Zambia, with an average annual income between $300 and $500. Incomes are sporadic, primarily relying on the agricultural items such as maize, goats or chickens. The majority of the farmers we work with have no regular income, no savings and no bank account or investments in their name. Honey is a crop with a very high value, and with just 10 beehives annual income can increase by 30%. Beekeeping is a passive income and does not require intensive labor inputs as compared to traditional crop production. Beekeepers see the destruction to their forests and are seeking new ways to ensure they can continue producing honey. Our model is invested in local solutions, with the ground staff working hand-in-hand with communities. We work with local leadership, including Chiefs and Headmen, to ensure long-term planning and impacts that benefit communities and their environment as a whole. Our holistic approach includes every voice of the communities we work with, ensuring that we consistently listen to the needs and wants of the communities to learn how to effectively achieve our united goals. 

Our out-grower model aims to increase yields and profits for our producers, while also promoting sustainable practices that ensure the long-term viability of beekeeping and honey production. This also includes decreasing carbon emission and land-use change, as sustainable honey production involves protecting and preserving forest areas. 

The Nature's Nectar solution is innovative with the hybrid use of new technology and traditional knowledge. These new technologies include the Kenyan top bar beehive as well as the data tracking application used to measure impacts. Nature's Nectar is the only honey company in Zambia that uses this unique combination to ensure long-term viability. Bee Sweet, the second largest producer of honey within Zambia, uses top bar beehives. These beehives have no systematic approach of distribution and management and no traceability function. Because of this, the beehives have a very low production (average of 3kgs per beehive annually) and zero impact reports. Nature's Nectar distributes our beehives with community members to create community protected forest areas, specifically for honey production. We then collect the GPS locations of every hive as well as baseline data about the farmer it belong to. This allows us to see every impact, from land area protected, to honey produced per beehive, to the farmer payouts year after year. The solution is simple and effective, and we have seen larger productions (10+kgs per hive annually) and larger payouts to farmers for their production.

Our technology solution is the bespoke data tracking application used to monitor all impacts used with our top bar beehives. This technology was built by our partner, Smallholdr, in order for us to have customized data tracking functions. We work closely with their team to have to most efficient ways of recording and utilizing data such as land areas where beehives are placed and production amounts per beehive. The value of this technology is not just the impact data it creates, but the ability for Nature's Nectar to have full traceability of our honey fro hive to bottle.

Large production amounts and increased revenues for our farmers prove that this model of long-lasting beehives and data tracking work to create impact. Nature's Nectar produces the largest average per beehive honey amounts and also pays farmers the highest market prices for their honey production. Every Nature's Nectar beehive is GPS located and has associated data tagged with it. Our current 7000 beehives and 700 farmers are registered on our platform and we will continue to expand to reach our 50,000 beehives and 5,000 farmers.  

The entire aim of Nature's Nectar is to produce honey in the most sustainable way possible, ensuring the practice of beekeeping can continue for many generations to come. The only way this is possible is through the use of long-lasting beehives that don't destruct the local forest. Creating an income from a forest product that incentivizes the preservation of local land will lead to not just larger protected areas, but larger honey production as well. This will then lead to higher payouts to farmers, further incentivizing them to preserve their local land for long-term benefits.

Nature's Nectar currently works with 700 small-holder farmers, consisting of 350 males and 350 females. In 2020 we aim to grow to 1,300 farmers, and in five years we will reach 5,000 farmers. We always work with 50% female beneficiaries and 50% male beneficiaries, with an aim to increase income by at least 30% annually. Within these 5 years we will also grow our team to 10 full-time Field Supervisors.

This year we aim to double our existing beehives and farmer beneficiaries. We have had some operational delays with COVID-19 but are continuing our plans in a way that keeps risks low and still benefits community members. In 5 years time our initial 50,000 beehives will be in production and we will then enter into our franchise phase of operations. This will include expansions into other honey production areas of Zambia, and then regionally to countries like Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Botswana. With this franchise we aim to create carbon credit accreditation, meaning community members can further receive financial benefit for the preservation of local forests. The impacts of larger forest preservation for honey production will impact millions of lives through the reduction of carbon emissions and large community payouts for their ensured protection of land.  

The largest current barrier is financing for beehive expansion. We have proven the model has a sound business case and are in negotiations for funding, but it is a long process. Our current technical barrier is finding the right partner to help us to develop the scientific data behind the carbon accreditation and the true numbers showing how much carbon is being saved in the protected forest areas.

We have participated in funding opportunities to meet potential investors and partners. Most organizations require 3 years of operations to be considered, so we have 6 more months until we qualify. We have started and created working relationships with multiple stakeholders though, and are confident we will be able to secure the capital we need for expansion within the next year. We have recently secured a long-term buying contract for our honey to be sold in Germany, and with this in place we will be able to ensure our business trajectory.

4 full-time staff, 2 part-time (transitioning to full-time in 2020) and 700 farmer beneficiaries.