SUSS’ Rooftop Apiary
Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) has made history as the first educational institution in Singapore to introduce bees on its campus, marking a significant milestone in promoting sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship. Located on the rooftop of SUSS’ campus, the rooftop apiary is a buzzing symbol of the university’s commitment to cultivating entrepreneurs for the agriculture industry. This initiative comes as part of SUSS’ collaborative effort with Nutrious Farms to develop the Agri-preneur Incubation Programme (AIP), which aims to provide students with hands-on agritech experiences. To explore a wider range of agriculture and sustainability topics to complement the current AIP, Nutrious Farm introduced Bee Amazed, which gave rise to a Bee Garden in the Experiential Urban Farm at SUSS.
SUSS’ rooftop Experiential Urban Farms
SUSS close partners Mr Damien Lam, Co-Founder, Nutrious Farms & Mr John Chong, Founder, Bee Amazed Garden
With 100,000 bees buzzing around the campus rooftop, beekeeping at SUSS brings a range of benefits to both the community and students. Beekeeping promotes biodiversity and supports the conservation of wild bees, which is crucial in the face of declining bee populations worldwide. Bees also play a vital role in pollinating flowers and crops, thereby contributing to the growth of fruits, vegetables and other plants. In turn, bees are essential to our ecosystem and food supply. Additionally, Bee Amazed has been conducting numerous community and corporate-centric workshops and training supported by SUSS involving our students as facilitators and interns.
SUSS student faciliators and Bee Amazed facilitor preparing for the event
As a prominent advocate for sustainability, biodiversity, innovation and social impact, Guerlain has established itself as a global leading force in these areas. Hence, it comes as no surprise that Guerlain has found strong alignment with Bee Amazed’s eco-business proposition and SUSS’ social mission. This exciting collaboration marks the first-ever partnership between Bee Amazed and Guerlain which will commence on 31st May 2023. With nearly 300 employees from the APAC region participating in the regional corporate work plan event held at SUSS, Guerlain’s collaboration with Bee Amazed symbolises their dedication to driving positive change within the region towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.
SUSS Dean of Students Dr Yap Meng Sheng welcoming Guerlain to SUSS
Ms Corene Wong, Regional Retail & Education Director APAC Travel Retail & Local Markets, Guerlain's sharing on Guerlain's sustainability commitment
The event is hosted by SUSS, with the active involvement of 30 SUSS students and nine Bee Amazed facilitators. Through the collaboration, Bee Amazed and Guerlain aim to create a transformative experience that combines their collective knowledge, skills, and passion for sustainability and social responsibility to explore innovative solutions and promote social impact in the APAC region.
Guerlain delegates in protective gear before their personal encounter with the bees at the skyrise apiary & farm at SUSS
Guerlain delegates's personal encounter with the bees at the skyrise apiary & farm at SUSS
SUSS’ dedication to nurturing entrepreneurs for the agricultural sector and promoting sustainability through innovative initiatives like the AIP and Bee Amazed collaboration demonstrates the university’s commitment to addressing Singapore’s food security challenge and supporting the nation’s “30 by 30” goal. By cultivating a deep understanding of agriculture and its impact on the environment, SUSS is empowering the next generation of leaders to create a sustainable and resilient future.
Looking ahead, SUSS will play a crucial role as the local and regional host in the World Sustainability Forum 2023 on 14th September 2023, in collaboration with universities in Basel, Switzerland, and Toronto, Canada with a focus on sustainability research and best practices.