Finocchiona PGI: scent of sustainability

Fiera Milano, Rho
08-11.05.2023

Ethics and sustainability

Finocchiona PGI: scent of sustainability

CONSORZIO DI TUTELA DELLA FINOCCHIONA IGP

During 2021, the Consortium for the Protection of Finocchiona PGI kicked off a sustainability project, starting with the installation of houses for the shelter of pollinator bees near the cultivation fields in Tuscany of wild fennel, a fundamental ingredient for the production of Finocchiona PGI. These installations were repeated for two consecutive years and subsequently the Consortium wanted to expand its project by adopting a real beehive, on the hills around Florence, of a farm where a colony of bees dedicated to the production of honey lives. In fact, bees have been declining in numbers for years, due to climate change and pollution: their death affects pollination as bees are one of the main players in maintaining biodiversity due to pollination. The impact of this adoption is important as sensors are installed in the hive that monitor the environment around the bees and the state of health of the colony in real time. Thanks to the data that is monitored daily, the beekeeper has the possibility of reducing the mortality of bees, protecting their life, and consequently increasing the production of honey and consequently increasing natural pollination while also safeguarding the biodiversity of nature around the hive.