Improving Processing Technologies: Forest Honey Filter Phase One

THE PROBLEM

Traditionally, honey farmers use a number of tools which are difficult to carry into the forest and account for production loss during the filtration process. The traditional process is cumbersome and time-consuming. The challenge faced by honey farmers is the limited tools accessible to them that simplify the honey extraction process. Simple tools can save them time and ensure they are more productive.

THE SOLUTION

The compact nature of Kopernik's forest honey filter is the key, it is light and can be folded to make it easy to transport to the forest. We want to test whether this filter will make the process more cost-effective for farmers.

We will compare the following things between the traditional method of extraction and the custom-built honey filter:

• The time taken to extract the honey in the forest;
• The average amount of honey lost during the extraction process;The average amount of honey extracted in the same period of time.

THE EXPECTED IMPACT

We expect that the results of this test will reveal whether this filter can make the process more cost-effective for farmers and, in turn, increase their income.

THE PROJECT RESULT

Honey collectors in Wairterang village, Sikka district, East Nusa Tenggara province currently use traditional practices to harvest wild honey, that require a number of tools, which are difficult to carry and also contribute to honey loss during the filtration process. This results in  a complicated and time-consuming honey-extraction process in the forest.

Kopernik recently tested a Forest Honey Filter of our own design to improve and accelerate the extraction process and to increase production to meet the high demand for the wild honey. Kopernik hypothesized that a lightweight, easy-to-carry forest honey filter will increase the productivity of honey collectors, thereby increasing their income.

This experimentation project was carried out between  November 2016 and  December 2017 and our findings were that the K-Honey Filter:

• Filtered 6.4 kg of honeycomb 37.5% faster than the traditional filtration method;
• Produced 300 grams more honey per 6.4kg of honeycomb when compared to the traditional filtration method;
• Shortened the process to extract honey by eliminating several steps of the filtration process 

THE BROADER IMPACT

Download the project report above to read more.