B ees are the unsung heroes of the agricultural world. They quietly pollinate crops, ensuring that we have a steady supply of fruits, vegetables, and even the coffee beans that bring us to life in the morning. Yet, around the world, bees are in trouble. Misinformation, habitat loss and irresponsible practices threaten these vital insects. For one South African woman, Elizabeth Lamond, a love of bees, a corporate background, and a determination to protect her country's apiculture and agriculture ignited a passion for creating change.
“As a child we lived in Phalaborwa and my father had a few hives of bees. His boxes were on my grandparents’ farm out in Bushbuckridge, a healthy foraging area way back in the day. Hence bee farming has always been in my DNA. I have spent a large part of my life in the corporate world involved with strategic financial planning,” says Lamond.