Every month, during a Coffee Break, we dive into the stories of EIC innovators and get a glimpse of the people behind EIC projects. Today’s guest is Michael van Cutsem, CEO and founder of BeeOdiversity, Belgian greentech scale-up and winner of multiple social and environmental impact awards. The people behind the BeeOmetrics (the EIC Transition project coordinated by BeeOdiversity) and their shared desire to protect bees and their ecosystem will be the focus of today's article. Tune in to discover the innovation journey which recently saw them the recepients of one of Belgium’s most prestigious environmental recognitions, the Trends Impact Award for Ecology.
Starting from the origins of EIC-funded BeeOmetrics project, can you tell us how the idea of harnessing wild bees for biodiversity and pollution monitoring emerged?
The starting point for our idea of BeeOmetrics came from the need of our clients and stakeholders to monitor soil and plant biodiversity as well as agricultural and industrial pollution at a parcel level.
This is how, since over 10 years, we have been working together with bees – acting as natural drones – for the analysis of pollen, through which we can provide a lot of data to take well-focused actions. As wild bees are present naturally, it is a great solution to scale multiple sites at a low cost.
However, domestic bees cover a 700 ha area – a radius of 1.5km. As some client segments, such as agriculture, real estate, solar panels, wanted data that focused on parcel level, we have developed a global solution to monitor biodiversity and pollution via wild bees, covering on average a surface of 40 ha – 300m radius.
The BeeOdiversity team comprises scientists, bioengineers, biologists, data scientists and members from other professional backgrounds. Do you think its strength lies also in such a diverse expertise? In which way?
Of course! We believe that solving biodiversity decline requires expertise, technology, innovation and stakeholders’ engagement. Thus, having talents from diverse backgrounds and expertise is a tremendous asset when developing an ambitious project such as BeeOmetrics.
This combination of expertise not only brings complementary knowledge but also strengthens our ability to think and solve problems, and it is worth noting that even non-scientific profiles can play a role from this perspective.
What do you want to achieve through the BeeOmetrics project and in which way do you think it is contributing to both the prevention of biodiversity loss and the promotion of human health?
One of the biggest challenges to the preservation of biodiversity consists in collecting data on biodiversity and pressure effects such as pollutants, scaling on multiple sites. This significantly hinders the capability of different actors – corporates, public authorities, land managers and small businesses, as farmers – to take appropriate decisions.
With BeeOmetrics, the sole presence of air, ground, plants and wild pollinators will give indications on the state of the environment at a low cost so that all these players can take action at their level, in particular by reducing pollutants such as pesticides and enhancing biodiversity.
This has the potential of contributing to a healthier food system, air quality and environment for all species – including humans.
Which are the major challenges BeeOdiversity has faced until now? How did the European Innovation Council grant help in this regard?
BeeOdiversity operates in a fast-moving environment: regulatory changes, varying levels of client maturity on nature-positive initiatives, emerging technologies...
They all present significant challenges!
Adapting to these dynamics requires constant innovation and agility, which can be particularly demanding for a small company like ours. In this context, securing funding for the intensive R&D needed to develop a project like BeeOmetricsis represents a real challenge.
The EIC grant has been very helpful in addressing these issues. Not only has it provided vital funding for our R&D efforts, but it was also an important recognition of the value and impact of our work which enhanced our credibility and gave a sense of stability to the team and the company, which is of course key to achieving long-term success.
BeeOdiversity’s recent winning of the Trends Impact Award for Ecology is just the last of a series of awards received for its positive impact. What does this achievement signify for the team?
Winning the Trends Impact Award for Ecology is indeed a significant milestone that reflects the daily dedication of our team in creating a positive impact on the environment and society.
We have also been recently selected as a Deep Tech Pioneer by Hello Tomorrow, highlighting our innovation capacities at an international level. This achievement not only brings valuable visibility to our work, but it also validates the direction we have taken as a company.
For the team, such rewards are deeply motivating and reinforce our commitment to innovation and the development of impactful solutions like BeeOmetrics. Beyond inspiration, these achievements enhance our credibility and reputation in the market, opening the doors for us to strengthen partnerships and expand our influence in the industry.
BeeOdiversity’s work is largely focused on the involvement of all the players, including multinationals and public bodies, in its project. If you could talk business over lunch with either a large CEO or global leader, who would you choose and why?
This is a very good one! If you’re ok, I would propose two names.
Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia. His book, “Let my people go surfing” inspired me a great deal in my career choices, as well as in the type of governance and management I should adopt. He struck me as authentic, passionate and in search of meaning. That's what I think is essential if an entrepreneur is to have a positive impact on society.
The second is Mike Horn. I saw him at a conference, then read his books, including “Latitude Zero”. What an enlightenment! Since that day, I've understood that you have to make your life an adventure, that you have to live your dreams and be ready to sacrifice comfort to succeed.
And, lastly, a more personal question for you, Michael, as CEO and founder of BeeOdiversity. How do you make sure that you respect the environment as much as possible in your everyday life? Have you introduced any new environmentally-friendly practice recently?
Yes, I am doing my best. I've cut down on transport, especially business trips, I buy very little clothing and I don't mind holes anymore! I've recently been applying Slow Heat principles by wearing heated clothes instead of heating my home, and I try to buy locally. Last but not least, I try to raise awareness among my family and friends whenever possible. But changing habits is complicated, so there's always room for improvement.
At BeeOdiversity, we have also launched an internal taskforce dedicated to our ecological footprint. This initiative focuses on practical solutions for the day-to-day aspects of our business, such as mobility, office meals, recycling and energy use.
Taking responsibility for our impact on the environment – whether as individuals or as a company – is also part of the job and we are committed to continually improving and reducing it.
About BeeOdiversity
The EIC beneficiary BeeOdiversity aims to preserve and regenerate biodiversity. The organisation supports companies and public entities to be leaders in biodiversity through several personalised services and follows a defined methodology. In particular, the BeeOmetrics project, funded within the EIC Transition scheme, offers a cost-effective solution for environmental monitoring and remediation.
Learn more about BeeOmetrics by visiting CORDIS and the project official website.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.