Applications for RIRDC funding for 2008-09 are now CLOSED
Click here for  information on the application process, and to apply for RIRDC scholarships

New  Pollination Australia booklet now online
At a workshop in April 2007, the honeybee industry and other pollination stakeholders evaluated opportunities and threats to the pollination industry and set initial directions to develop paid pollination services as a self sustaining industry. The workshop was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) under their Industry Partnerships Program. At this workshop, it was agreed that an incursion of Varroa destructor poses one of the greatest threats to Australian horticulture and other plant based industries. The workshop agreed to develop a business plan that can be independently managed by an industry alliance. This alliance is known as Pollination Australia. Download the booklet here.

Objective: To improve the productivity and profitability of the Australian beekeeping industry.

Research Manager: Ms Margie Thomson, Phone:  02 6271 4130, Email: margie.thomson@rirdc.gov.au
 

RIRDC Honeybee Research Results:
All Honeybee Publications for Sale	Free Downloadable Research Reports
Free Short Reports (research summaries)	Five-year Honeybee Industry Plan
Completed Projects in 2006-2007 & Research in Progress as at June 2007
Handbook of New Industries Entries	Honeybee Agfacts (factsheets)
Honeybee R&D newsletter
"Progress in developing strategies for the control of small hive beetles" November 2005
Information flyer - Management of Small Hive Beetle (SHB) in Australia (May 2006)
About the RIRDC Honeybee Research Program:
Strategies for 2007-2008	Some Key Performance Indicators
Background	Expected Key Outputs in 2007-2008
Expected Key Outcomes in 2007-2008	New Projects Funded in 2007-2008
Total Program Budget 2007-2008
Industry related links:
Australian Honeybee Industry Council	Honeybee Australis
What's new New honeybee research reports New honeybee Short Reports

There are around 9,600 apiarists in Australia operating around 500,000 hives. Over 70% of hives are operated by commercial beekeepers managing more than 200 hives. Most commercial honeybee keepers are regionally based. Domestic honey consumption is likely to remain relatively elastic with other spreads representing a close substitute as retail prices increase. There is currently a strong demand in the horticultural industry for hive pollination services.

International bulk honey prices peaked at $US1,600 per metric tonne in 2003, but fell dramatically in 2005 to $US800 per metric tonne. Key international honey producing countries are China, the US and Argentina. Australia is the 9^th largest producer (USDA 2005). China and Brazil exports are estimated to increase.

Australia normally imports a relatively small quantity of honey apart from drought years ($12 million in 2004, $38.3 million in 2003 (DFAT 2005). Australian exports average around 8–9 million kilograms per annum. Prices are highly variable pending on international market conditions.

Future growth of the honeybee industry is dependent on international demand and supply conditions, access to public flora resources and the industry’s ability to cope with pests and diseases.

Varroa mite is an external honeybee parasite that attacks both the adults and the brood and can kill honeybee colonies. The introduction of varroa mite would have a dramatic impact on domestic production and the industry is reliant on R&D to address this and other potential threats from pests and diseases. Several recent research projects have focused on this.

There continues to be strong support for the Program by industry (RIRDC Five-year Planning Workshop 2006) and opportunities for productivity enhancements through improved technology are significant and are a key component of the RIRDC Honeybee Program.

The industry continues to lobby for access to native flora, as without this, commercial beekeeping would not exist.

Some Key Performance Indicators

• Participation of researchers at State and Federal Beekeepers Conferences and APIMONDIA, to enhance the adoption and communication of R&D findings and to understand industry priorities
• Annual researcher meeting well supported by industry and research community participation
• Dissemination of research results to industry building greater understanding of commercial beekeeping and financial performance, resource availability in NSW State forests, understanding of lowering patterns of south-east Australian melliforous flora, insectical and fungal bio-control of small hive beetle and increased understanding of the New Zealand strategies to cope with exotic pests and diseases.
• Development of new projects address key pollination R&D issues

• Increase profitability by improving hive husbandry and management practices
• Continue honeybee access and research into melliferous resources on public and freehold land
• Develop agricultural and horticultural crop pollination and biological controls using honeybee
• Improve methods of extracting, storing and transporting honey
• Increase the use of honey in the food industry
• Determine therapeutic values of specific floral species
• Improve communications between the R&D sector, the honey industry and associated industries

Research Budget: $625,400