Interview with Niccolò Calandri, 3Bee CEO
January 5, 2022
Interview with Niccolò Calandri, 3Bee CEO, a company that develops and realizes innovative solutions for beekeeping.
Today we talk about a product that due to its ductility is gaining more and more space in our daily eating habits: honey. Let’s look closely at the yellow nectar that has always accompanied us and that increasingly contributes to the reputation of the ‘Made In Italy’. However, the work behind its production plays a very important role: a long and demanding process, which has found technology as an ally. A change that thanks to 3Bee has simplified the work of beekeepers. 3Bee, the Italian startup, was one of the first companies to understand that this sector needed to be innovated. Since 2017, the company produces intelligent monitoring systems that monitor hives’ status, with the aim of optimizing production, saving time and preventing problems and diseases. Always having an eye to preserving the environment as well as protecting bees, which due to pesticides and pollution struggle to survive.
Hive-Tech Pro V. 2
Hive-Tech Pro V. 2 is the company’s flagship product that allows beekeepers to monitor daily the status of the hive. Through a simple app beekeepers will be able to manage their apiaries remotely by displaying data on weight, indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity and sound intensity. A technology that allows beekeepers to optimize the production of honey and their daily activities.
3Bee project “Choose the bees”
Thanks to 3Bee’s pioneering technology for hive monitoring, every person has the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of the bees, so small and yet so important. In fact, 3Bee provides a service that allows people to adopt a hive remotely. What’s more? People can choose the honey they prefer and receive it at home at the end of the beekeeping season. Thanks to the 3Bee sensors and technology, people will contribute to bee’s protection, enjoying their favorite honey.
Hello Niccolo, nice to meet you, and thank you for the time you are dedicating to us. 3Bee: tell us what it is
Our motto has always been “generate a positive and concrete impact on the environment”: 3Bee was born with the aim of helping beekeepers with technology to preserve the bees’ health, promote their survival and improve their quality of life.
How and when was 3Bee the idea born?
3Bee was born from the idea “to bring true value”. In 2017, together with Riccardo, we developed a technology solution with the aim of improving beekeepers’ work. Our mantra is: “from the union of electronics and biology to move from a chemistry-based approach to a data-based one”.
How long did it take to shape the project?
After we had the idea, it took about 12-16 months to start commercializing Hive-Tech, a Hive 3.0 that consists of a network of IoT sensors. The technology allows beekeepers to monitor the status of the bees, so that they can intervene promptly in case of anomalies or problems, reduce treatments and decrease visits to the apiary. Over the years we have developed a network of over 3,000 beekeepers throughout Italy and created the 3Bee project “choose the bees ” dedicated to individuals and businesses.
Who is the 3Bee target?
3Bee caters to bees and beekeepers who take care of them every day. Bees are the key link in the entire food chain. Thanks to their extremely important pollination work, bees are responsible for about 80% of the food we eat every day. However, bees, their survival and well-being are increasingly endangered due to climate change, the abuse of agrochemicals, diseases such as varroa, and the loss of natural habitats.
At a time when the planet is in great suffering, how important is it to convey knowledge about sustainability and educate people to act according to ethics? Does your project go in this direction?
Nowadays, more and more people pay attention to environmental and social impact issues. Luckily, the world is changing and people are increasingly aware of the importance of taking actions that have a positive impact on the environment. The commitment must be constant, transparent and measurable.
3Bee project “choose the bees” is accessible to everyone, even those who are not beekeepers. Its main aim is raising awareness regarding the importance of bees and biodiversity. All those who will offer their support to these virtuous beekeepers, proving themselves attentive to sustainability and respect for the environment, will be able to adopt a hive remotely, receive regular updates on the status and wellbeing of the bees and, finally, enjoy a 100% Italian and genuine honey.
How did you launch 3Bee? Have you used Crowdfunding campaigns?
We launched a crowdfunding campaign in December 2016 with the aim of creating a company that would generate a concrete social and environmental impact: in 2017 we founded 3Bee. It was just me and Riccardo, today the team is composed by more than 25 full-time employees, divided into the business unit: Marketing, R&D and Operation.
CSR for companies, how does it work?
“Pollinate the Planet” is the Corporate Social Responsibility project created by 3Bee. Through the project, companies which pay attention to environmental sustainability can protect bees and consequently the planet with a concrete, strong and important impact on the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. The benefits for our brand partners are increased employee engagement and improved brand image perceived by consumers and stakeholders.
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