Protecting bees while creating value: mission accomplished, in Kafireas

Even a wind farm, destined to produce clean energy at an extremely low cost, can have an impact on the environment and on a community’s activities. We know that well, and that’s why we adhere to the sustainable worksite philosophy. But being sustainable is not just a technical matter: you must be able to build relationships and come up with completely new models. That’s what we’ve done in Kafireas, on the Greek island of Euboea.ù The site is the biggest wind farm in the country, and has been in operation since 2019: a demanding and complex project, with various challenges to overcome and strong local opposition. We had to convince the people living in the area that supporting the local economy was one of our main commitments. One of the biggest problems was the impact of construction on the local beekeepers. Due to the large number of trucks in circulation and the increase in traffic in the area, beekeepers had been forced to move their beehives elsewhere, which caused honey production to decrease, costs to rise, and their profits to fall. Enhancing the value of a unique product Then the idea was born to help promote the local honey – a product with unique characteristics and exceptional nutritional value – by making it more marketable with a designation of origin label (a Protected Designation of Origin – PDO), which was approved by the Greek national authority and now is waiting for the green light from the EU. The designation of origin label is a guarantee for consumers and an asset for beekeepers, who can now increase their sales and even export a recognizable product. It all makes for an outcome in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8, “Decent work and economic growth”, and 15, “Life on land”. The new brand brings together 150 beekeepers and their families, who all live in the area of the Karystos municipality and produce this unique food: Kissouri honey. This project would not have been possible without a close collaboration with the local beekeepers’ association. With our support, an expert on designation-of-origin products submitted the request for the designation after collecting all the required information. The most important lesson we learned? How crucial it is to stand beside local communities, talk to all stakeholders, build strong relationships of trust with residents: all to identify the projects that can bring true value to the local economy and support job creation. This project will not only give 150 local beekeepers an important boost, it will also create more jobs in the long term connected to a high-quality product.

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Protecting bees while creating value: mission accomplished, in Kafireas

Protecting bees while creating value: mission accomplished, in Kafireas

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