How we think about bees

We are firm believers in both a honeybee population's ability to adapt to their local environment and the potential for targeted selection for best performance in a particular environment and its conditions. Our advice is thus rooted in both an appreciation of the biological potential of honeybee colonies and an awareness of the climatic and geospatial limitations on bee performance.

Just like any livestock operation, a thriving beekeeping business must be based on bee genetics that are suited for the task placed ahead of them and must be managed in a sustainable fashion.

We think about a honeybee population, whether it is used for honey, pollination, or breeding stock, as a function of the genetics of the population, the environment the bees live in and the community behaviors of the bees. This trifold approach enables us to work with our clients to determine the best approach to manage queen genetics, apply different management strategies and develop the business towards a desired outcome.

Getting started in beekeeping - the right way

Like many agricultural production systems, expertise and know-how are a strong barrier to entry for the cultivation of honeybees. FutureBees can help you to develop accessible tactics, techniques and educational materials that can be used to develop a beekeeping business in any part of the world. We combine this know-how with a focus on the appropriate beekeeping business strategies for your region, climate and environment. Considering this environmental context means we can help our clients and community members better understand their points of difference in local and global markets. From considering niche monoflorals, genetic improvement / sustainability programs to stand-out competitiveness in global markets for bee products and pollination services, FutureBees can help you develop a strategy.

Beekeeping can be much more valuable to a region than just the value of marketed honey, a vibrant pollination service ecosystem can invigorate horticultural productivity and rural communities can be transformed by creating connection with the local environment and creating and improving income streams.

We at FutureBees NZ stand ready to help you get started, whether you’ve started already or are just in planning stages, we bring world-leading capability and knowledge to developing a growing and vibrant beekeeping ecosystem in your region.