Program Overview
Strategies and Expectations 2008-09
Key strategies for 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.
Expected key outputs for 2008-09
- 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.
Expected key outcomes for 2008-09
- 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.