Revolutionizing beekeeping in S. Africa with IoT

Added on 20 July 2023

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Revolutionizing beekeeping in S. Africa with IoT

The beekeeping industry in South Africa has been facing numerous challenges that have threatened its sustainability. Issues such as aging beekeepers, low honey prices, inadequate training, vandalism, and a scarcity of young commercial beekeepers entering the field have cast valid concerns over the future of apiculture in the country. However, a groundbreaking project funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)’s Frontier Technology Livestreaming fund is offering hope and paving the way for the future of beekeeping in South Africa.

The project is a collaboration between CHAP, Agrisound, and Cropimpi. CHAP, a leading agri-tech innovation hub, is spearheading the initiative while Agrisound, a UK-based pollination management technology company, and Cropimpi, an R&D organization based in South Africa, bring their expertise to the table. The main objective of this innovative endeavor is to explore the potential of utilizing internet-of-things (IoT) technology to revolutionize the beekeeping industry in South Africa.

One of the aspects of the project is providing beekeepers with real-time data from in-hive sensors. These sensors measure crucial metrics such as colony acoustics, temperature, humidity, and light and motion detection to identify potential hive theft. By empowering beekeepers with these valuable insights, the project aims to improve beekeeping practices and create economic opportunities for underserved groups in South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal and Western Cape provinces.

The project’s first phase focused on the KwaZulu Natal province, home to the African honeybee species. Twenty-five participants from diverse backgrounds across the province were selected, ranging in age from 19 to 80 years old. The group comprised approximately 60% male and 40% female participants, with 12% identifying as having a disability.

Image Provided by CHAP

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