The importance of bees as pollinators for biodiversity and world nutrition is fundamental to humanity. The United Nations General Assembly has declared 20^th of May World Bee Day to draw attention to the urgency of protecting bees. Intensive farming, monocultures and the use of pesticides have contributed to a considerable decline in the bee population worldwide.

75% of global food crops depend on pollination, especially by bees. Today, more than 50,000 bee-pollinated plant species are used for medical purposes alone. Bees find an especially wide variety of food sources in cities, thanks to the diverse planting in gardens, cemeteries and parks.

EVVA is actively supporting bees and, with five colonies, is setting a sustainable example

Due to the marked decline in the global bee population, we decided in 2021 to introduce five bee colonies with a total of around 300,000 bees at EVVA Vienna. They have found a new home on a sunny, accessible terrace. With this, EVVA aims to raise awareness of the need for respectful use of the Earth's limited resources.

Beekeeper Thomas Zelenka looks after our EVVA bees, which now carry out their valuable work producing organic honey not only in nearby gardens but also in parks and avenues and chestnut trees. They pollinate around 750 million blossoms per year! At the same time, EVVA brings a piece of nature into the middle of the city for its employees – a project that brings us great joy. The harvested EVVA honey – 184 kilograms in 2024 and 162.5 kilograms in 2025 – is now a very popular gift at our events.

Photographs: Beekeeper Thomas Zelenka with
management and employees on the EVVA bee terrace