More than $250,000 has been raised by donations and everyday shoppers to help Australian beekeepers and their honey bees, as part of the Hive Aid campaign.
Hive Aid was established in December 2019 by the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC), Hive + Wellness and Rural Aid, where the campaign initially received $100,000 from agriculture company Olan Australia and $50,000 from Hive + Wellness.
The remaining funds have been raised through direct donation or consumers byying Capilano Drought & Bushfire Relief Honey packs, where 20 cents from every purchase would be donated to Hive Aid.
With bushfires, drought and now COVID-19 all having a major impact on the beekeeping industry, the support for Hive Aid and the nation’s “forgotten farmers” has seen a growth in both donations and beekeepers registering for support.
“This is a fantastic milestone, and quite humbling in the current environment. These funds will make a huge difference to beekeepers, supporting them to sustain their bees amidst some of the most challenging conditions on record,” said Hive + Wellness Australia CEO Ryan d’Almeida.
“Since the campaign was launched, Rural Aid has done an amazing job of directing the funds to professional beekeepers in urgent need.”
“Hive Aid has seen particularly high requests for assistance from beekeepers in Queensland and New South Wales, where conditions have been harshest. But beekeepers from much further afield have also registered for help.”
Professional beekeepers can register for assistance at https://www.buyabale.com.au/can-we-help-you/, while donations can be made here.
