Program Overview

Strategies and Expectations 2008-09

The research priorities are to:

form of an industry alliance ‘Pollination Australia' and implementation of a business plan to increase industry preparedness for the incursion of varroa mite or other serious pests and diseases into Australia;
continue to identify, understand and develop controls and treatments for pest and diseases including small hive beetle and varroa mite;
increase productivity and profitability by improving hive husbandry, natural and artificial/supplementary nutrition and management practices (including pollination);
provide production and financial benchmarks;
continue to support research into melliferous resource access and availability;
determine therapeutic and prebiotic values of honey; and
maintain communications between the R&D section, the honeybee industry and associated industries serviced by the pollination industry.

identification of biological control options for chalkbrood and small hive beetle;
testing completed of pollen substitutes for nutritional value;
determination of the value adding potential of the prebiotic components of honey;
production of a report outlining the therapeutic properties of honey;
provision of support for research extension, adoption, dissemination and exchange; and
an industry based alliance ‘Pollination Australia' formed with a business plan, and risk management and education and training strategies finalised and implemented.

improved understanding and management of bee diseases and pests;
increased understanding of honeybee nutrition and artificial substitutes;
greater understanding of the beneficial properties of honey;
greater understanding of issues relating to beekeeper profitability;
greater understanding of melliferous resources in plantations;
broad agricultural industry awareness of the importance of pollination services by honeybees; and
broad agricultural industry awareness of the risks associated with incursion of major honeybee pests and diseases such as varroa mite.