Copenhagen's ByBi grows from a rooftop project to 100 hives, producing six tonnes of honey yearly

What started in 2010 as a small social project on a Copenhagen rooftop has grown into a successful urban business. Today, it manages between 80 and 100 bee colonies across the Danish capital and produces up to six tonnes of honey each year. The project, called ByBi (CityBee), was started by British anthropologist Oliver Maxwell. His aim was to build a social enterprise that helps people who face social and economic barriers. It does this by training people who have been unemployed for a long time, asylum seekers, and people recovering from addiction in beekeeping. According to a report by The Guardian, the project offers an alternative to traditional business models. It uses work with nature to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds rebuild their confidence and develop new skills.Combining environmental care and social inclusionByBi places beehives in different parts of Copenhagen, including on the rooftops of company headquarters, in public parks, on housing estates, and at cultural institutions. The project works with local businesses, city authorities, and community groups. Companies can sponsor beehives on their premises, while ByBi takes care of the bees, collects the hone...