Introducing: Mutualism

Mutualism

How Biomimicry Can Launch Innovations

Honeyguides are the birds that talk to people. Also known as indicator birds (family Indicatoridae) and predominantly found in Africa and Asia, these pale bellied, pink billed species get most of their food and nutrients from the eggs, larvae, and beeswax found in a bees nest. However, the only way these honey-craving creatures can access their food is by dragging humans to a nest, having said humans subdue the bees through smoke, and then crack into the nest with their big human hands.

To alert the humans, the Honeyguides use a distinctive whistling sound to draw them to the bees nest. This isn’t a selfless act on behalf of humans by any means, who will pillage and take all the honey they possibly can Winnie the Pooh style (it is said the Hadza tribe in Tanzania attributes 10% of their food from honey thanks to the help of the Honeyguides). However, once the humans are gone and with the bees subdued, the Honeyguides are left to dine out on the larvae, eggs, and beeswax.

From Birds To Bees-iness

Mutualism is defined as a symbiotic relationship where all species involved benefit from their interactions, and the working together of Honeyguides and humans is as good a mutualistic interaction as there is on the planet.

This notion of mutualism is at the core of so much of what we do at Ecogreen, and a vision for the future that we aspire to. Well, it is aspirational but also incredibly necessary. Partnering and collaboration through creativity and knowledge is an essential step towards a sustainable planet.

Ecogreen have a vision to build a hive of interconnected businesses that work together to achieve separate goals, while also contributing to each other’s projects. And we are very proud to announce our first steps towards creating this ecosystem of businesses with our own shared co-operative facility.

Applied Mutualism

Whether that be combining resources to increase production and minimise consumption (on not having to purchase new equipment for instance), to minimising land by sharing spaces and technologies, we must partner together on all fronts; our ideas, our IP, our technologies, our transportation, and our geography.

Ecogreen have a vision to build a hive of interconnected businesses that work together to achieve separate goals, while also contributing to each other’s projects. And we are very proud to announce our first steps towards creating this ecosystem of businesses with our own shared co-operative facility.

We are starting this journey of mutualism by sharing our current work premises with two other companies – DGR, which are a liquid filling company (currently in the process of setting up here), and AGV, who specialise in algae species and applications. [Acronym’s used for privacy while each gets their house in order]

With DGR, we have configured an optimal warehouse design for them and will gradually be introducing them to lean six sigma methods to optimise efficiency and reduce waste. The arrangement involves combining our equipment with theirs to almost double their output capacity, which allows us to repurpose and refurbish our existing equipment rather than upgrade to new ones and waste resources.

Ecogreen are supporting the commercialisation of 15 years of scientific research across a range of algae species and applications, which is what makes Ecogreen and AGV the perfect match. We use AGV products that are compatible with our existing low impact packaging, filled by DGR, sold through our website, and connected to our partners. From laboratory installation and bio-reactor design, all the way to viability models, we have been with AGV every step of the way.