The Australian Made Campaign is reminding consumers to support local beekeepers and manufacturers by buying authentically Australian bee products this World Bee Day.
“When you buy Australian Made bee products you are supporting thousands of Australians at all stages of the supply chain, from the local beekeepers to the bee product manufacturers and retailers.
It’s been a tough year for Aussie farmers and manufacturers, particularly those in regional areas affected by fire, drought and floods, so it is important to show our support. Buying Australian-made is one of the best ways to ensure the bee industry thrives in Australia. There are more bee products than just honey, Australian produces a range of beeswax candles, food wraps, skincare and health supplements,” said Australian Made Campaign chief executive, Ben Lazzaro.
In 2017, the United Nations declared 20 May as World Bee Day to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, there are approximately 13,000 registered beekeepers in Australian, producing between 20-25,000 tonnes of honey each year and contributing an estimated $100 million per annum to the local economy.
“It is important to educate people and raise awareness for bees and the significant role they play in the health of our ecosystem. It has been fantastic to see awareness of the plight of bees increase in the last few years, however more can be done to support bees and the beekeeping industry,” said owner and founder of Apiary Made, Celeste Faltyn.
“As individuals, there are a number of things that we can do to assist the survival of our bee populations…One thing that we all can do is to show support for local Australian beekeepers, buying local has tremendous positive impact on the Australian industry. Beekeeping can be a hard game sometimes, just like all forms of farming, by supporting local manufacturers you are helping the beekeepers and producers in our community to continue defend our local bee populations.
There are also lots of little things that you can do to support the bees in your own backyard. Research the chemicals and pesticides you are using in your garden, leave little bowls of water out for them on really hot days, plant different flower species that blossom year-round and letting your herbs and veggies go to flower so the bees can feed on the nectar and pollen, these are all small things that you can do right now to aid their survival,” Celeste said.