Wheen Bee Q&A - Bee-Cause Wine

At Winesmiths, when we say Sacrifice Nothing, we believe that includes the earth too. Supporting initiatives that drive sustainability is part of our ethos, and this year we are partnering with the Wheen Bee Foundation on two of our exclusive Limited Release wines. Until December, any purchase of the Premium Pinot Grigio and Premium Shiraz will see part proceeds go towards funding vital research and education through the foundation.

The Wheen Bee Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit charity that promotes awareness of the importance of bees for food security and ecosystem health.

They work with bee-reliant agriculture industries, the apiculture industry, local, state and Federal governments, universities, research organisations and communities to address the national and global threats to bees.

The foundation funds vital strategic research, development and education initiatives that expand the scientific understanding of honey and native bees, improve pollination efficiency, and increase food security.

Named after beekeeper Gretchen Wheen, a pioneer in the Australian beekeeping industry, Gretchen donated much of her estate to form the Wheen Bee Foundation to enable and promote research, innovation, training, and communication to ensure a viable beekeeping industry.

We sat down and spoke with Fiona Chambers, the foundation's CEO, about bees and why it's so important to protect them.

Why do Bees matter?

Bees play a significant role in Australia's agriculture sector, helping to pollinate most of the crops we eat and many that feed livestock. In fact, two-thirds of Australia's agricultural production benefits from bee pollination.

In 2015, the average annual economic value of honeybee pollination was estimated at $14.2 billion. In that year, Australia's agriculture production was worth $54 billion. Australian agriculture has set a target to reach $100 billion by 2030, and bees will play a significant role in supporting the goal.

Bees also play a vital role in preserving biodiversity and ecosystem health, and without them, many ecosystems would be altered or cease to exist altogether.

***

What are the threats to bees, and why is this an important issue?

Bees are at risk due to habitat loss, pests and diseases, chemical use, and severe weather events.

Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to pollinators through urban development, increasing land use for agriculture, bushfires, floods, and deforestation. This loss of habitat reduces food and water sources, removes essential habitat for breeding and increases the travel distances required to forage.

Pests and diseases such as Varroa mite and small hive beetle have the potential to significantly disrupt the ecosystem of bees and the pollination services they provide in Australia.

The use of insecticides in agriculture or gardening also impacts bees and their hives, while extreme weather events such as bushfires and floods are increasing pressure on the productivity and availability of bees and the beekeeping industry.

Given that one out of every three mouthfuls of our food depend on bees, all these threats place an increasing risk to our food security.

***

How does working with a brand like Winesmiths help Wheen Bee Foundation?

Working with a brand such as Winesmiths helps the Wheen Bee Foundation to reach a larger audience and increase awareness of the importance of bees among the broader community.

We appreciate the opportunity to work with partners, such as Winesmiths, that focus on environmental sustainability and share similar values, acting ethically with respect, fairness, and integrity.

As such, we applaud Winesmiths' efforts to promote environmental sustainability and ecosystem health, whether it's through native vegetation projects, organic wine production systems, water repurposing or carbon emissions reduction.

As a charity, we value Winesmiths' generous support, which enables the Wheen Bee Foundation to continue vital projects to support bees and bee research.

***

What will our donation to Wheen Bee Foundation help you achieve? What projects will the funds' help/impact?

The donation will help to fund vital strategic research and education initiatives currently supported by the Wheen Bee Foundation.

Key projects include:

The Wheen Bee Foundation Research Apiary in NSW (New South Wales) is a resource for researchers and organisations to study pests, diseases and other issues affecting bees, such as Varroa mite and small hive beetle.
The new Centre for Bee Education provides educational resources to help educators and students improve their understanding of the importance of bees.
The Discover Bees program aims to discover, document, and name the estimated 1000 native bee species in Australia that are currently unidentified.
The 5 Bees program supports commercial beekeepers recover from bushfire and drought to build a resilient, sustainable industry.
The Powerful Pollinators Planting Guides are produced to encourage the strategic planting of trees for bees and other pollinators.

***

Which is your favourite of our Limited-Edition wines and why?

We love the striking artwork by Adelaide-based artist Billie Justice Thomson, whose designs pay homage to the "kitschy delights of eating, drinking and the day-to-day miracles of existence". We think bees fit in perfectly with this ethos, as tiny buzzing miracles of existence. We hope these lovely Winesmiths casks operate as gentle reminders to people to pay respect to bees and their important role in food security and ecosystem health.

If we had to pick a favourite, we would say the Winesmiths Premium Shiraz, for its gorgeous blooms. However, knowing how much bees love the grevillea on the Premium Pinot Grigio pack, it's a hard choice.

***

What are some simple ways our drinkers can help bee populations around their home?

There are lots of easy ways to support bees around your home.

It's important to remember that when we talk about bees, most people think of honeybees and the delicious honey they create. However, Australia is home to about 2,500 species of native bees that play an integral role in our ecosystems as pollinators, and each have unique requirements for breeding and foraging.

Here are four simple steps to support bees around your home.

Provide forage for bees

Plan your garden to provide flowers that bear nectar or pollen year-round. Unlike honeybees that can fly up to 5km to forage, many of Australia's native bees can only fly short distances, some less than 100m, so they need to be provided with something flowering close by, every day throughout spring, summer, and autumn.

Provide habitat for nesting

Creating nesting places for bees, including spaces for cavity-nesting bees and ground-nesting bees.

About 70% of Australia's native bees breed and reproduce underground. You can make a "nesting ground mound" by leaving some bare ground free from mulch. Make it higher than your mulched areas so the birds don't cover the area with mulch. 

Provide water for drinking and cooling

Honeybees need lots of water, using its cooling properties to regulate the temperature of their hive. Add pebbles to your water bowl that reach above the water level or add corks to float on top to act as landing places so more bees can access the water on hot days when the demand is high.

Avoid harmful sprays

Wherever possible, avoid insecticides that kill bees and other pollinators.

Limit the use of herbicides to remove weeds that could otherwise be a valuable source of food or habitat for bees. Some herbicides are also known to affect the gut of honeybees. 

Control weeds and garden pests by using mechanical or biological methods or substituting harsh chemicals with softer alternatives as a last resort.   

***