90 bee colonies were settled at eleven locations run by the Brothers of Mercy. Environmental protection is important to the order, which is why it supports the promotion of biodiversity.
Vienna (OTS) – “We chose a project with bees because their pollination performance means they are of utmost importance for numerous wild and crop plants, biodiversity and our diet. They also depend on the help of beekeepers, whom we specifically support here,” emphasizes Brother Saji Mullankuzhy, Provincial of the Austrian Province of the Brothers of Mercy. At the same time, he places the project in a larger context: “We must develop an attitude that leads to a responsible approach to the environment in which we live and for which we are responsible.”
Largest partner of PROJEKT 2028
The aim of PROJEKT 2028 from the company Haare Nektar is, on the one hand, to increase the bee population and, on the other hand, to raise awareness of insect protection. The Brothers of Mercy are now the largest partner of PROJEKT 2028 out of a total of 217 companies and institutions to date. “The honey bee symbolizes a variety of living beings that rely on an intact ecosystem in order to survive – including us humans. For this reason, we are particularly pleased to be able to raise more awareness of the importance of biodiversity thanks to the Austria-wide support from the Order,” says Miriam Walch, Managing Director of Hectare Nektar.
11 locations for over 4 million bees
Together with Hectare Nektar, which has the largest bee protection movement in German-speaking countries with PROJEKT 2028, a total of 90 beehives, each with up to 50,000 bees, were set up at eleven locations on the order’s property: in Anif (Sbg.), Gleisdorf (Stmk.), Graz -Eggenberg (Stemk.), Grub near St. Ruprecht an der Raab (Stmk.), Kritzendorf (Lower Austria), Linz (Upper Austria), Schenkenfelden (Upper Austria), St. Veit/Glan (Ktn.), Trahütten (Stemk.) , Walding (Upper Austria) and Vienna. All materials, from the beehives to the honey jars to the labels, are sourced from Austrian producers and guarantee sustainability throughout the entire value creation process. On the one hand, thanks to short supply chains, transport routes and thus CO2 emissions are reduced. On the other hand, it also strengthens the local economy.
Support from local beekeepers
The honey bees are looked after and propagated on site by experienced beekeepers. In this way, the Order of the Brothers of Mercy also contributes to the promotion of local beekeeping. Because only one percent of all beekeepers in Austria are full-time commercial beekeepers. They alone cannot ensure the necessary pollination performance for the regional food supply – hobby beekeepers with their bee colonies are therefore indispensable for pollination performance. “Our beekeepers make a significant contribution to landscape conservation – without them, some places would quickly look very different. Supporting them ultimately benefits us all,” emphasizes Walch.
Example: Kritzendorf
The locations of the beehives were chosen so that they are far enough away from the people being cared for, there is no competition with local beekeepers and their bee colonies, and the natural balance on site is maintained and promoted. During the course of the preparations, it was discovered that there were no beekeepers in Kritzendorf, a district of the city of Klosterneuburg in the north of Vienna. Since honey bees have a flight radius of up to three kilometers around their hives, increased pollination performance and, ideally, higher yields from crops such as fruit trees can be expected in the future.
Responsibility for people and the environment
Ecological awareness has been an integral part of management at the Brothers of Mercy for years. “We take responsibility for our environment and try to conserve natural resources in all areas, operate sustainably and keep the ecological footprint as small as possible,” explains director Adolf Inzinger, the overall leader of the Austrian Province of the Brothers of Mercy. “We are now certified according to EMAS III at all locations, have been able to halve CO2 emissions in recent years, rely on renewable energy wherever possible and recycle the extremely climate-damaging anesthetic gases.”
Provincial Saji Mullankuzhy added: “As operators of health and social facilities, for us respect for people and respect for creation are inseparable. Because responsibility for creation applies to every living being, to every ecological system, to every place of creation.”
About the Brothers of Mercy
The Austrian Order Province is one of 18 order provinces worldwide. The Brothers of Mercy are represented in 51 countries with 396 health and social care facilities on all continents. The institutions are run by 981 religious brothers worldwide together with around 64,000 full-time and 29,000 voluntary employees.
In the Austrian Order Province with locations in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, the Brothers of Mercy, together with around 9,400 employees at around 30 locations, operate twelve hospitals as well as numerous other social and health facilities such as old people’s and nursing homes and living environments for people with disabilities , a therapy station for drug addicts, hospices and spa and wellness facilities. In 2022, despite the corona pandemic, around 116,000 inpatient admissions, almost 750,000 outpatient patient contacts and around 50,100 operations took place in Austrian facilities.
Following the example of the order’s founder, St. John of God (1495-1550), the Brothers of Mercy look after people regardless of origin, religion, gender or social status and want to be available to everyone who needs help to the best of their ability. A hallmark of the order is the attempt to address urgent problems in the health and social sectors with innovative and sustainable solutions and to implement these with professionalism and Christian charity.
About Hectare Nektar GmbH and PROJEKT 2028
Hectare Nektar is a Viennese impact company that has been committed to bee protection since it was founded in 2017 by Martin and Mark Poreda (formerly kununu). With PROJEKT 2028, the largest bee protection movement in the German-speaking area, hectare nectar brings together businesses, private individuals and beekeepers to work together towards one goal: increasing the bee population by ten percent within ten years. Companies settle bee colonies on their premises, thereby ensuring regional pollination and harvesting local honey. In order to communicate their commitment to all stakeholders, Haken Nektar provides its partners with a comprehensive communication and marketing solution. Private individuals get involved as bee sponsors and thus directly contribute to more bees. So far, the number of bees in Austria and Germany has increased by more than 100 million animals, and a total of 217 companies have already joined the movement. Hectare Nektar also operates the first digital bee marketplace for fair and safe trade in bees. Hectare Nektar GmbH focuses on sustainability throughout the entire value creation process. All materials such as glasses or labels are sourced from Austrian producers. Further information on www.hektarnektar.com and www.projekt2028.com
Questions & Contact:
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