R&D
plan for the Honeybee Program 2007-2012
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Foreword
Snapshot of the Five Year Plan
Contents
1. Purpose of the Plan
2. The Honeybee R&D Program
3. Industry Profile and Future Directions
4. Key Challenges for the Industry
(SWOT)
5. Review of the Existing R&D
Program
6. External Priorities and R&D
Priorities in Other Industries
7. Consultation Findings
8. Industry Commitment to Research
9. The R&D Program 2007 -– 2012
10. Proposed Budget
References
Appendix 1: Current/ Completed Projects
Appendix 2: Contacts for the R&D Program
Foreword
Five year R&D plans
are developed for each of RIRDC’s major Pprograms. The present plan (2007-20122007–2012)
is the fifth R&D Plan for the Honeybee Program. Honeybee research has
developed progressively since the mid 1980s. Each of the previous five-year
plans, 1986-–91, 1991-–96, 1996-–2001 and 2002-–07 reflected the priorities
of the Australian honeybee industry at their time of development and this
plan builds on their achievements.
The 2007-20122007–2012 plan
identifies six key objectives for the R&D investments to be made on
behalf of the industry and Australian Government. Associated with each
objective is a set of strategies to be followed in pursuing each objective
and a set of performance indicators to give guidance as to how the program
Program can be assessed as it progresses. An indicative share of R&D
budget has also been proposed for each plan objective in order to guide
investment priorities.
Preparation of the R&D
Plan has been informed by a comprehensive review of the Australian honeybee
industry funded by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) as part of their Industry Partnership Programme.
The R&D Plan is a better document for the direction setting insights
that the ‘Future Directions for the Australian Honeybee Industry’
report provides.
This Plan has been prepared
in consultation with RIRDC’s Honeybee Research and Development Advisory
Committee. The development of the Plan has received input from apiarists,
packers/marketers, resource managers, researchers, and the regulatory and
extension communities during the period June to August 2006. Stakeholder
input has included surveying of the industry at the NSW, Victorian, Western
Australian, South Australian and Queensland state conferences and at the
National Conference of the Australian Honeyb Bee Industry Council, Launceston,
Tasmania on 11 July 2006. In excess of sixty complete data sets were received
from stakeholders during R&D Plan preparation detailing future industry
R&D priorities. There is a high level of satisfaction with RIRDC’s
management of Hhoneybee R&D and support for Australian Government matching
funds.
The plan reflects the state
of the industry in 2006 – a supply-limited producer of a suite of quality
products with issues in profitability, resource access and pest and disease
management.
The R&D Plan for the
Honeybee Program is consistent with the RIRDC Corporate Plan (2003-–2008)
and will be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Primary
Industries and Energy Research and Development Act 1989.
Peter O’Brien
Managing Director
Rural Industries Research
and Development Corporation |
Des Cannon
Chairperson
Honeybee R&D Advisory
Committee |
Snapshot
of the Five Year Plan
Goal
To improve the productivity,
sustainability and profitability of the Australian beekeeping industry
through the organisation, funding and management of a research, development
and extension Pprogram that is both stakeholder and market focussed.
Objectives
Plan objectives that drive
the 2007-20122007–2012 R&D Pprogram along with expected share of the
program Program budget are:
Pest and disease protection
– to be prepared for exotic pest and disease incursion before it occurs;
to prevent the establishment of exotic pests and diseases of economic significance;
and to control endemic pests and diseases that impact on beekeeper profitability
(45%);
Productivity and profitability
enhancement to lift beekeeper income – to encourage a culture of constant
improvement in bee husbandry and management; to provide an across- the-
board lift to industry productivity and profitability; and to focus productivity
improvement on bee genetics, best management practices, beekeeper efficiencies
and industry benchmarking (15%);
Resource access security
and knowledge – to ensure ongoing access to native forests on public
lands; to win back a share of native forest access lost in previous resource
allocation decisions; to better understand the native floral resource on
which the industry depends; and to address the implications of climate
change on the Australian apiary industry (10%);
Pollination research
– to better understand the cost and value of pollination services provided
by beekeepers; and to generate industry value through shared learning with
crop producers, especially the Australian almond industry (10%);
Income diversification including
new product development – to provide a major boost to packaged bee
sales, an area of strong competitive advantage for the Australian industry;
and to develop new Australian apiary products which represent secondary
niche opportunities (10%); and
Extension, communication
and capacity building – to improve industry performance through the
adoption of relevant R&D project outcomes and beekeeper participation
in vocational training; to educate the public and policy makers on the
economic contribution made by the honeybee industry; and to build capacity
in the Australian honeybee industry by encouraging the next generation
of industry leaders and researchers (10%).
Program budget allocations are
flexible and will be guided by the Honeybee R&D Committee.
The plan is consistent with
RIRDC’s overriding aim of maximising the contribution its investments make
to the profitability, sustainability and resilience of rural industries
and communities.
Abbreviations
AFB American Foulbrood
AHBIC Australian Honeyb
Bee Industry Council
BA Biosecurity Australia
BMPs Best Management Practices
B-Qual Honeybee industry’s
QA pProgram
CIE Centre for International
Economics
CPI Consumer Price Index
DAFF Australian Government
Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries
DPI Department of Primary
Industries
EMS Environmental Management
Systems
GVP Gross Value of Production
HAL Horticulture Australia
Limited
HBRDC Honeybee R&D Committee
IRA Import Risk Assessment
KPI Key Performance Indicator
NBIR Net Benefit Investment
Ratio
NHB National Honeybee Association
in US
QA Quality Assurance
RDC Research and Development
Corporation
RIRDC Rural Industries Research
and Development Corporation
USDA United States Department
of Agriculture |
Acknowledgements
The Plan’s authors wish
to acknowledge the assistance of RIRDC and the Honeybee Research and Development
(R&D) Advisory Committee. In particular we wish to thank the following
individuals for their assistance with the plan:
Keith McIlvride, Chair, RIRDC
Honeybee Research and DevelopmentR&D Advisory Committee (retired August
2006)
Des Cannon, Chair RIRDC Honeybee
Research and DevelopmentR&D Advisory Committee
Margie Thomson, Honeybee Program
Manager RIRDC
Doug Somerville, NSW Department
of Primary Industries
Stephen Ware, Executive Officer,
Australian Honeyb Bee Industry Council
Purpose
of the Plan
The purpose of this Five
Year Plan is:
To present the rationale and
context for R&D required in the honeybee industry;
To indicate the specific role
that RIRDC funded R&D will play in expanding the knowledge base of
the industry, and improving its profitability and sustainability;
To provide clear signals concerning
honeybee R&D needs and priorities for the period 2007 to 2012.
To outline the broad priorities
that RIRDC will pursue through its investment in the Pprogram over the
next five years;
To take account of national
research priorities, Ministerial guidance and RIRDC policies;
To encourage collaboration and
coordination for honeybee industry R&D, including new joint investment;
and
To encourage and support discussion
between the honeybee industry, RIRDC and the research, development and
extension community, that will enable the future needs of the industry
to be identified and incorporated in annual and longer term planning.
The plan is based on
the findings of consultation with industry via a survey of industry members
including apiarists, queen bee producers, marketers/packers and pollinators
during the period May to August 2006, as well as a workshop involving a
broad cross section of the industry and the RIRDC Honeybee R&D Advisory
Committee held in Launceston, 11 July 2006. A draft plan was presented
to the RIRDC Honeybee R&D Advisory Committee in September 2006 and
refined following feedback from the Committee.
A revised draft was then
forwarded to the Australian Honeybee Industry Council and has beenwas endorsed
by the Council on 15 November 2006.
The
Honeybee R&D Program
The
Honeybee R&D System
Honeybee industry R&D
is facilitated through RIRDC. Apiarists pay a levy for research, which
is matched on a dollar for dollar basis by the Australian Government up
to 0.5% of the industry’s gross value of production. The levy raises between
$350,000 and $450,000 per annum and funds approximately 12 projects per
year. Around $10,000 pa is also provided via queen bee producers via a
statutory levy.
The industry has voted to
support an increase in the levy over the life of this current R&D plan.
The levy will increase from 0.8 cents/kg of honey sold by apiarists to
1.2 cents/kg from 1 July 2006 and again to 1.5 cents/kg from 1 July 2009.
The levy will increase R&D funds available to the industry by up to
$200,000 pa when Australian Government matching funds are added to the
additional levy.
R&D projects are usually
completed on a joint funding basis and Hhoneybee R&D is conducted by
a range of bodies including Departments of Primary Industries (DPI), universities
and other research institutions.
The RIRDC Honeybee R&D
Advisory Committee guides project funding.
Honeybee
R&D Advisory Committee
The RIRDC Honeybee R&D
Advisory Committee consists of persons with a range of skills and experience
in the research, production, processing and marketing sectors of industry
together with representatives of RIRDC. The committee provides recommendations
on the allocation of research and development contributions (comprising
industry levies and Commonwealth matching) to the RIRDC Board.
The advisory committee consults
with industry bodies, such as the Australian Honey B Bee Industry Council
(AHBIC) and participants to evaluate the requirements of the industry for
R&D, to prepare the five-year R&D strategic plan which it reviews
annually and to monitor and evaluate the impact of R&D projects.
Industry
Profile and Future Directions
Industry
Profile
The following profile of
the Australian Hhoneybee industryAustralian honeybee industry was sourced
from ‘Future Directions for the Australian Honeybee Industry’ a
report prepared by the Centre for International Economics (CIE 2005) with
funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries
and Forestry (DAFF) Industry Partnership Programme unless otherwise stated.
The Australian honeybee industry
produces between 20,000 and 30,000 tonnes of honey annually and the industry
has an overall gross value of production (GVP) of $65 million a year, with
an estimated GVP of honey production of around $50 million per year. Other
honeybee products include paid pollination services, beeswax production,
queen bee and packaged bee sales, pollen, bee venom and propolis.
The relatively small honeybee
GVP understates the industry’s value to agriculture and the economy in
general through pollination services and, potentially, the value of honey
and honey products in medical uses. Pollination services have been previously
been estimated as contributing around $1.7 billion annually to the Australian
economy (Gordon and Davis 2003).
The main honey production
period is from October to March. All honey is colour classified according
to an international system and although prices have generally increased
as the colour decreases from dark to amber through to white, there is a
move towards a more extensive grading system that also evaluates presentation,
moisture, taste and freedom from contamination (RIRDC 2002).
There are approximately 9,600
registered Australian beekeepers with around 500,000 hives. However, over
70% of hives are operated by commercial beekeepers with more than 200 hives.
Most commercial apiarists operate between 400-–800 hives but some have
more than 3,000 hives.
Approximately 70% of Australian
honey is produced from native flora. This requirement for native flora
highlights the dependence of Australian beekeeping on public and private
land. About half the accessible apiary sites in native forests are on private
land and half on public land. Access to native flora on public land has
declined over time.
NSW is home to 33% of Australian
apiarists, Queensland 31%, Victoria 15%, Western Australia 10%, South Australia
8% and Tasmania 3% (Rodriguez et al 2003).
About a third of honey produced
in Australia is exported and directed to over 38 countries. Key export
markets include the United Kingdom, Indonesia, North America and Saudi
Arabia. Most Australian honey is exported in bulk form, but there is a
significant and increasing proportion of exports shipped as retail packs.
Generally honey import volumes
are quite small but rose to 9,000 tonnes in 2003 when there was a drought-
induced shortage of Australian honey. Australian honey is mostly high quality
and commands a significant premium over honey from other countries.
The drought in Australia
throughout the early part of the 2000s coincided with high international
honey prices, resulting in substantial increases in wholesale prices in
Australia. These prices have now declined but in the longer term, honey
prices have increased at a rate slightly more than the Consumer Price Index
(CPI). Consumption of honey has followed an inverse relationship to honey
prices. Australian consumers readily substitute other spreads for honey.
Queen bee breeding is specialised
and there are growing markets, especially in North America, for Australian
queen and package bees. This sector of the industry is relatively profitable
and there are good prospects for expansion — the major constraint is the
number of skilled queen bee breeders.
There is also a growing market
for pollination services, especially with the expansion of the almond industry
centred in South Australia and Victoria.
Industry
Risks
CIE 2005 prepared a honeybee
industry risk assessment, which has been reproduced in Figure 1 over page.
High probability/high impact events for the Australian honeybee industry
are:
-
Introduction to Australia of
the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor);
-
Introduction to Australia of
exotic diseases; and
-
Further decrease in access to
native flora resources.
Figure 1 Risk Assessment
of the Australian Honeybee Industry (CIE 2005)
Source: CIE 2005
Possible Strategic Directions
Strategic directions for
the industry were identified by CIE 2005 as:
Keeping exotic diseases
out of Australia – build on the initiative to run a Varroa mite incursion
simulation by:
Having experts from New Zealand
heavily involved
Undertaking an in-depth assessment
of New Zealand’s experience (an R&D project)
Publicise to all beekeepers
the risks of incursion and the importance of being alert
Adopt the recommendations of
the National Sentinel Hive Program Review
Securing access to
native floral resources – engage with sound factual arguments and:
Production and dissemination
of information on the equivocal nature of research linking beekeeping to
impacts on native flora
Enhance the above with a panel
of well-respected scientists, draw distinction between managed and feral
bees and highlight efforts to manage feral bees in sensitive areas
Provide wide publicity on the
value of honeybee industry to the economy and the need to strengthen colonies
on native flora
Improve industry environmental
credentials – formally adopt an EMS
Develop alliances with professional
environmental groups such as Australian Conservation Foundation to advance
the preservation of old growth forest
Queen bee breeding
and improved industry productivity – with reduced access to floral
resources and increasing costs of production improved productivity is vital:
Encourage adoption of research
results and Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Develop skills courses and user-friendly
education/website material
Improve the genetics and use
of purchased queen bees
Improve queen bee breeding techniques
and skills transfer from existing breeders
Make better use of purchased
queen bees in commercial hives
Marketing initiatives
– market and promote branded Australian product through:
Continuing to move away from
bulk exports to branded ‘retail’ packs
Capitalise on market growth
in Asia and short supply in North America
Generic promotion is not recommended,
promote brands and positive health attributes
Invest more through RIRDC in
market intelligence, statistics and market information
Research and produce medicinal
products eg Jelly bush honey which has additional anti-microbial properties
Increase product quality to
maintain current price premiums against imported honeys
Quality control
– in honey, quality issues are closely linked to inappropriate use of chemicals
to control brood diseases. Address quality control through:
Promotion of the industry’s
QA Pprogram, B-Qual to increase industry sign-up
Continually update the industry’s
emergency response plan
Continue testing imported and
domestic honey for chemical residues
Keep informing the industry
of the importance of protecting its clean, green image
Work with government to tighten
labelling laws and improve compliance
Education strategies
– there are many areas where the industry needs to improve its human capital,
including:
Comprehensive training and education
needs analysis
Registration of education providers
to ensure appropriate quality
Promotion of the educational
offering, creation of a brand and course standardisation
Development of training capacity
Lobby government for educational
funding
Training to include implementation
of a code of conduct for use of national forests
Educate government/the public
on contribution made by apiary.
Since completion of CIE
2005 the industry has invested in design of training packages for beekeepers
and the Australian Government has committed to funding the development
of a national code of conduct for use of native forests.
These suggested strategic
directions have implications for R&D planning.
Key challenges for the industry,
incorporating CIE 2005 findings are summarised in the following chapter.
Key
Challenges for the Industry (SWOT)
|
STRENGTHS
1 Skills, enthusiasm and mobility
of commercial beekeepers (perhaps the industry’s greatest strengths)
2 The industry is free from
Varroa mite
3 Australia has diverse nativeonal
flora
4 A reasonable organisational
structure
5 Reputation for high quality
product: some good brands have been established
6 Some honey and honey products
have medicinal uses that can be better exploited
7 Through pollination services,
the industry provides major benefits to the rest of agriculture: there
is strong demand for these services
8 Industry has a good quality
assurance program: however more beekeepers need to adopt this
9 Industry has good research
capacity: there are several highly skilled researchers (but the industry
needs to look to encouraging young researchers) |
WEAKNESSES
10 Public relations between
beekeepers and the public, and with land managers could be improved
11 The industry lacks dynamics
in selling its ‘good story’ image to the public and policy makers
12 Many beekeepers are not
vigilant on controlling endemic diseases especially American Foulbrood
(AFB)
13 The high mobility of the
industry is conducive to spreading of pests and diseases
14 Hive productivity is not
as high as it could be. There is scope for greater adoption of best management
practices (BMPs) and research results
15 The industry’s workforce
is ‘ageing’. Not many young people are attracted into the industry, and
there is some reluctance to pass on skills in a formal way
16 There is a lack of standards
that are adhered to in provision of professional pollination services
17 The industry is having
difficulties in enhancing the supply of queen bees to meet growing demand
18 Industry cohesion and
cooperation is not as strong as it could be |
|
OPPORTUNITIES
19 Ensure everything possible
is done to protect the industry from an exotic incursion of Varroa
mite or other exotic diseases
20 Influence government to
ensure that access to native flora resources is not further restricted
and hopefully reversed
21 Establish industry environmental
credentials through the development and adoption of an EMS plus
native forest use code of conduct
22 Better hive management,
increased productivity and discipline to manage the increased risk of disease
spread as state governments withdraw resources from monitoring
23 Better hive management,
increased productivity, discipline and QA system adoption to manage the
increased risk of honey contamination from chemicals/antibiotics
24 Increase supplies to meet
demand for honey products particularly in queen bees and pollination
25 Maintain/enhance reputation
as a supplier of top grade honey which is cglean, green and commands
a premium, i.e. brands
26 Increase exports of branded
honey in retail pack form and sell less in bulk form
27 Develop and market
medicinal
honey products
28 Branded promotion that
emphasises positive health attributes rather than generic promotion
29 Education and training
needs analysis, standards establishment and industry branding |
THREATS
30 An incursion of Varroa mite
or other serious exotic pest would devastate the industry (the major threat
to the industry)
31 Production is 70% reliant
on native flora and there has been a strong trend in declining access as
the resource has been harvested by the timber industry or moved into conservation.
The industry’s scope for alternatives is somewhat limited (major industry
threat)
32 Spread of AFB through
bad hive management and state government agencies withdrawing resources
from enforcing state legislation and regulations which aim at controlling
AFB
33 Greater inappropriate
use of antibiotics and chemicals to control foulbrood diseases could cause
contamination and severely tarnish Australia’s ‘clean, green’ image
34 Beekeepers’ image in managing
environmental issues could be tarnished unless the industry adopts Eenvironmental
Mmanagement Ssystems (EMS)
35 Threat of exotic incursions
from some beekeepers illicitly importing material
36 Rising fuel prices will
affect profitability
37 Loss of skills and talent
as current generation of beekeepers and researchers retire |
Source: CIE 2005 and project
consultation
Review
of the Existing R&D Program
The
Existing R&D Program
The most recent RIRDC five-year
R&D plan for the honeybee industry addressed nine research objectives:
Objective 1: Bee Husbandry
and Management
Objective 2: Diseases and
Pests
Objective 3: Nutrition
Objective 4: Genetic Improvement
Objective 5: Income Diversification
Objective 6: Resource Access
and Value
Objective 7: Pollination
Research
Objective 8: Off-farm Activities/Improved
Marketing
Objective 9: Communication,
Extension and Human Capital
Details on the nature of
these research objectives are provided below.
Objective 1: Bee Husbandry
and Management
Apiarists need to constantly
improve their bee keeping skills and productivity in order to maintain
even modest financial surpluses. There is a wide range in the yield per
hive apiarists achieve within the same area at the same time. Issues relevant
to this objective include quality assurance requirements, honey contamination
from foulbrood treatments and the declining terms of trade for apiarists.
This objective has targeted investment in Good Beekeeping Guides based
on industry best practice. Guides targeted hive management for honey production
and pollination services, nutrition, queen bees, diseases and pests, apiary
equipment, honey harvesting, beeswax marketing and management of the industry’s
resource base. Guides have been prepared on a state-by-state basis.
Objective 2: Diseases
and Pests
Pests and diseases have
a major impact on production and the profitability of beekeeping operations.
Pests and diseases of economic importance include Chalkbrood, American
Foulbrood, European Foulbrood, Varroa mite and Small Hive Beetle. The R&D
Pprogram has invested in control options for foulbrood diseases. A major
threat to beekeeping in Australia is the introduction of exotic mites Varroa
destructor,
Tropilaelaps clareae (Asian mite) and Acarine disease.These
mites occur in bee populations in Australia’s near northern neighbours
and the New Zealand honeybee industry is currently affected by an outbreak
of the Varroa destructor mite. Many see it as only a matter of time
before the Varroa destructor mite arrives in Australia. Control
and detection are therefore the highest priority.
Objective 3: Nutrition
There is a growing realisation
by apiarists of the benefits of providing good nutrition to bees. Strategies
under this objective have examined the role of nutrition in disease control
and the role of nutrition in the effective function of the hive. The Pprogram
has supported projects that examine the feasibility of feed supplements
including the amino acid profiles and crude protein of pollen.
Objective 4: Genetic Improvement
In the past, strategies
to address the honeybee genetic improvement objective have included funding
support for both an Eastern and a Western Australian Bee Breeding Program.
Genetic improvement is a means of increasing hive productivity and/ or
maintaining productivity in the advent of a disease outbreak. Bee breeding
is capable of producing queen bees that show disease resistance, superior
honey production and placid temperament. A Biosecurity Australia, Import
Risk Assessment is currently underway for the import of bee semen.
Objective 5: Income Diversification
Australia is not a major
producer of apiary products such as pollen, royal jelly, propolis and bee
venom. Industry has placed priority on exploring income diversification
to add to its overall value and competitiveness. One area of income diversification
that has grown in value is queen bee and packaged bee exports. Australia
has a comparative advantage in this area given its freedom from many significant
diseases and pests. The R&D Pprogram has provided support to income
diversification options.
Objective 6: Resource
Access and Value
Continued access to native
flora is a major issue for the Australian honeybee industry. The resource
base available to the Australian honeybee industry is being eroded by clearing
for agriculture, clear felling for timber production, uncontrolled bushfire,
control of exotic plants useful to the industry, rural dieback and the
conversion of Crown land to reserves or national parks. Apiary is frequently
excluded or phased out of newly created national parks on the often-unsupported
assertion that honeybees out compete other native pollinators. The R&D
Pprogram supports work, which will provide a scientific basis for resource
access decisions. The value of native flora resources is also assessed
as part of this research objective.
Objective 7: Pollination
Research
Paid pollination services
are an important component of industry income. Pollination research includes
maintenance of healthy bees during pollination, integrated pest management
to avoid pesticide related bee deaths and assessment of the capacity and
value of the Australian honeybee industry to horticultural and agricultural
crop production. Pollination research has been collated and disseminated
on CD, best practice guidelines have been prepared by NSW DPI and the value
of pollination services to the Australian economy has been calculated and
updated.
Objective 8: Off-farm
Activities/Improved Marketing
The off-farm/improved marketing
objective addresses post-production research in order to market honey and
other hive products efficiently and profitably. Projects address marketing
efficiency, improved methods of extraction, storage and transport of honey.
Emphasis has been placed on avoidance of contamination and development/implementation
of QA systems that span the entire marketing chain. Research has addressed
the cost effectiveness of transport and handling systems, workplace safety
and efficiency as well as the impact of these systems on honey quality
and purity. Utilisation of apiary products, particularly honey in the domestic
market, needs to be broadened to reduce reliance on the spreads market.
Uses for honey including its role as a natural preservative in manufactured
food products and the exploitation of honey’s apparent medicinal properties
both show promise.
Objective 9: Communication,
Extension and Human Capital
Communication and extension
of RIRDC honeybee R&D Pprogram outputs includes production of an annual
research report, a newsletter providing information on the Pprogram’s activities,
one off products such as a comprehensive pollination manual and a CD of
all research since inception of the levy in 1980. The HBRDC reports to
both the peak and state associations at least annually and liaises with
relevant research organisations and institutions. The pProgram encourages
younger apiarists to be active in their state associations and sponsors
participants in leadership training.
Evaluation
of the Honeybee Program
RIRDC data on Honeybee R&D
Pprogram investment for the period 2002/03 to 2004/05 demonstates the Hhoneybee
Pprogram supported 37 projects with an expenditure of $5.6 million.
Expenditure by Program
Objective
Program resource allocation
for the period 2002/03 to 2004/05 by current plan objective is summarised
in Table 1 below. Current and completed projects making up the Pprogram
are listed ast Appendix 1.
Table 1. Expenditure by Honeybee
Program Area (2002/03 to 2004/05)
Objective
|
Total ($’ million)
|
Percentage of Total
(%)
|
| Bee
Husbandry and Management |
0.9
|
16
|
| Diseases
and Pests |
2.7
|
48
|
| Nutrition |
0.8
|
13
|
| Genetic
Improvement |
0.3
|
5
|
| Income
Diversification |
0
|
0
|
| Resource
Access and Value |
0.5
|
9
|
| Pollination
Research |
0
|
0
|
| Off-farm
Activities/Improved Marketing |
0.4
|
8
|
| Communication,
Extension and Human Capital |
0.1
|
1
|
Total
|
5.6
|
100
|
Source: AgEconPlus analysis
of RIRDC data
In addition to the investment
made in the period 2002/03 to 2004/05 the Pprogram invested in the following
in 2005/062005–06:
Expanded investigations of drone
fertility to improve queen bee productivity (Objective 4 Genetic Improvement);
Improved treatment options for
European foulbrood disease (Objective 2 Diseases and Pests);
Investigation of long term flowering
patterns for melliferous flora to enhance management options (Objective
6 Resource Access and Value); and
Further investigation of the
antimicrobial properties of honey (Objective 8 Off-farm Activities/Improved
Marketing).
During the period 2002/03 to
2005/062005–06 the Pprogram has had a strong emphasis on production research.
Project Classification
Table 2 shows RIRDC honeybee
R&D pProgram expenditure over the period 2002/03 to 2004/05 using an
industry value chain classification system. Share of RIRDC funding reflects
the extent that RIRDC investment has been matched by other research organisations.
Table 2. Expenditure by
Honeybee Program Area (as a % of total)
|
Classification
|
Total ($’million)
|
Share of RIRDC Funding
($)
|
Share of Total Funding
(%)
|
| Production |
5.1
|
2.0
|
91
|
| Processing |
0.1
|
0.1
|
2
|
| Distribution,
storage and transport |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Markets |
0.3
|
0.1
|
5
|
| Communication,
Extension, Human Capital |
0.1
|
0.1
|
1
|
Total
|
5.6
|
2.3
|
100.0
|
Source: AgEconPlus analysis
RIRDC has been able
to achieve a useful leverage rate for grower levy/matching Commonwealth
funds. Every dollar invested by RIRDC has attracted another $2.40 from
other funding sources.
Stage of R&D
R&D can be thought of
as a three-stage process:
Stage 1: fundamental or basic
research, the outputs of which are inputs into further research. The RIRDC
Hhoneybee Pprogram invested 29% of available funds into stage 1 projects
between 2002 and 2005;
Stage 2: specific outcome driven
research that can be used in some type of production. The Hhoneybee R&D
Pprogram invested 65% of available funds into stage 2 projects between
2002 and 2005; and
Stage 3: promoting the adoption
of research outcomes. Some 6% of funds have been invested in stage 3.
For established industries like
honeybees there tends to be a higher proportion of stage 2 projects. For
geographically diffuse industries with a scattered production base there
tends to be more investment in stage 3. There may be under- investment
in promotion of adoption of Hhoneybee R&D outcomes relative to the
features of this industry.
Initial Assessment Results
An initial assessment of
the Pprogram was prepared in consultation with representatives of the Honeybee
R&D Committee for the period 2002 to 2005. Results are summarised in
Table 3.
Table 3. Initial Assessment
of Total Funding 2002 to 2005
|
Project Impact Ranking
|
Number of Projects
|
Total Funding
($’ million)
|
Share (%)
|
| High |
3
|
0.44
|
8%
|
| Medium |
14
|
1.86
|
33%
|
| Low |
3
|
0.89
|
16%
|
| Too
early |
14
|
2.36
|
42%
|
| Unknown |
2
|
0.03
|
0%
|
| Cancelled |
1
|
0.04
|
1%
|
Total
|
37
|
5.6
|
100.0
|
Source: Honeybee R&D Committee
analysis
From the table it
can be seen that high and medium impact projects account for 41% of the
total investment. High impact projects included a literature review of
Nosema
apis in Australia, a review of factors influencing the success of introduced
queen bees and a publication on bee nutrition – fFat Bbees/Sskinny bBees.
A further 42% of projects were assessed ‘Too early’ to establish impact
reflecting the recent nature of investment.
Lessons
Learned
The following ‘take home’
messages are recorded from a review of the current R&D Pprogram:
48% of investment has targeted
pest and disease research;
An excellent Pprogram leverage
rate has been achieved for RIRDC funds;
Project funding has been dominated
by stage 2 – Development projects, which is appropriate for a relatively
mature industry; and
Project funding of 1% on stage
3 – Extension, may be too modest for a geographically diffuse industry
like honeybees.
Lessons learned from the review
of the current R&D Pprogram inform 2007-–2012 research priority setting.
External
Priorities and R&D Priorities in Other Industries
Priorities for the RIRDC Honeybee
R&D Plan 2007-20122007–2012 need to be set against knowledge of:
The broader national R&D
agenda including Australian Government National Research Priorities, Australian
Government Rural Research Priorities and RIRDC Corporate Goals;
International honeybee research
trends – US National Honey Board and United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) investments; and
Investments in linked industries
– including the priority given to collaborative pollination research in
horticulture .
A review of research priorities
in each of these areas along with a summary of lessons learned is presented
in this chapter.
National
Priorities and Rural Research Priorities
Australian Government National
Research Priorities as outlined by the Prime Minister on 5 December 2002
are:
An environmentally sustainable
Australia;
Promoting and maintaining good
health;
Frontier technologies for building
and transforming Australian industries; and
Safeguarding Australia.
The Government Priorities for
Rural Research are (www.affadaff.gov.au):
Sustainable natural resource
management – water a critical resource, transforming existing industries
to ensure their sustainability, overcoming soil loss, acidity and salinity
and sustainable use of Australia’s biodiversity are all key goals for this
priority.
Improving competitiveness
through a whole of industry approach – agricultural industries export
the majority of their produce and face intense global competition. To be
successful industry must focus on meeting the needs of increasingly sophisticated
and demanding consumers, while at the same time coping with often distorted
markets for their products. This demands a whole-of-industry approach to
the value chain.
Maintaining and improving
confidence in the integrity of Australian agricultural, food, fish and
forestry products – Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) must
provide leadership on food supply chain policies and food regulation reform
to ensure that rational, evidence-based policies are developed.
Improved trade and market
access - the rural sector is highly dependent on access to international
markets and to the prices received on those markets. These markets are
often difficult to penetrate because they are distorted by protection.
However, there are opportunities available for the removal of protection,
through various bilateral and multilateral trade forums.
Use of frontier technologies
-– new technologies, particularly biotechnology and genomics, have the
potential to significantly contribute to the sustainability and profitability
of Australian agriculture.
Protecting Australia from
invasive diseases and pests
-– protecting Australia’s animal, plant
and human health status through effective national quarantine arrangements
is a key challenge. As our approach affects our relationship with key trading
partners there are also significant implications for the export and ongoing
market access of key commodities and processed products. The Government
takes a scientific approach to its quarantine rules and regulations, and
any necessary import risk analysis.
Creating an innovative culture
-–
the RDCs have a clear and strong mandate to develop the skills and abilities
of the people in their industries and those of the relevant scientific
community. An innovative culture is essential for those involved in our
rural industries.
The Government Priorities for
Rural Research have been incorporated into RIRDC Corporate Goals and the
objectives of the Hhoneybee R&D plan 2007-20122007–2012.
RIRDC
Corporate Goals
RIRDC’s Corporate Goals,
expressed through RIRDC Corporate Plan 2003-–2008 are:
Develop new opportunities
– to achieve a more diverse rural sector through development of new agricultural
and related industries;
Adopt new technologies and
systems for established industries – to enhance and foster innovative
rural industries through targeted investment in research and development;
Improve the competitiveness
and sustainability of Australian agriculture -– to enhance the efficiency
and sustainability of agriculture by research into trade and environmental
options to improve profitability while safeguarding future agricultural
production potential; and
Underpin innovation and change
in Australian agriculture – to build a broader comprehension of farm
and regional community opportunities and human capacity for change, learning
and innovation in Australian agriculture.
RIRDC’s Corporate Goals are
driven by the principle that it will invest in less commercially attractive
projects.
USA
Honeybee Research
While the United States
represents a different set of circumstances to those found in the Australian
beekeeping industry, it is useful to view research investment more widely
and to investigate whether there are research issues covered overseas that
are being missed in Australia. Review of the US National Honey Board and
USDA investments in honeybee research (www.nhb.org and links) reveals the
following priorities:
Investigation of the impact
of pesticides on honeybee production;
Varroa mite understanding and
management;
Genetic improvement in honeybees;
Medicinal properties and uses
of honey;
Value of pollination to agricultural
production; and
Clean foods and residue- free
honey.
The consultants note that the
US almond industry provides R&D support to the US honeybee industry
in recognition of the important contribution bee pollination makes to the
viability of almond production.
US honeybee research outputs
are consistent with current and future Australian priorities.
HAL
and Almond Industry Research
HAL across industry strategies
as expressed through the Cross Industry Strategic Investment Plan 2004-–2007
(www.horticulture.com.au/industry/annualreports)
are:
Enhance the efficiency, transparency,
responsiveness and integrity of the supply chain for the total industry
to provide clear market signals;
Maximise the health benefits
of horticultural products in the eyes of consumers, influencers and government;
Position horticulture to compete
in a globalised environment; and
Achieve long-term viability
and sustainability for Australian horticulture.
Pollination research has not
been identified as a strategic priority through the cross- industry program.
The Australian almond industry
is the horticultural industry with the single greatest reliance on honeybees
for pollination. The strategic priorities for the Australian almond industry
as expressed through their strategic plan 2001-–2005 for production are:
To have average tree productivity
at US plus 10%;
To substantially improve the
international competitiveness and profitability of almond growing;
To increase production capacity
by an average 10% per year; and
To minimise the commercial,
marketing and environmental impact of pests and diseases and their control.
Once again, pollination has
not been identified as a research priority.
It is suggested that more
could be done by the Hhoneybee R&D Pprogram to elevate the importance
of pollination research with both HAL and the Australian almond industry.
Lessons
Learned
Review of national research
priorities along with R&D priorities in other industries reveals the
following lessons:
There is a national emphasis
on sustainable use of natural resources, supply chain management, product
integrity/residue freedom, new technologies and human capital;
US industry research priorities
are consistent with those in Australia and there are no ‘stand out trends’
not covered in Australian programs; and
More needs to be done to elevate
the importance of pollination research in Australian horticulture.
National research priorities
along with priorities in other programs were used to set directions for
the Honeybee R&D plan 2007-–2012.
Consultation
Findings
Consultation to secure broad
ownership of future research directions was completed with apiarists, honey
packers, the research, regulatory and extension communities using the following
process:
Distribution, collection and
collation of research priority surveys at 2006 NSW, Victorian, Western
Australian, South Australian and Queensland state conferences;
Distribution, collection and
collation of research priority surveys at the 2006 peak industry body conference
in Launceston, Tasmania;
Presentation of Pprogram review
background paper to the 2006 peak industry conference and workshopping
of emerging themes and potential research priorities with delegates;
Targeted follow-up with key
stakeholders on emerging plan themes and research priorities with additional
requests for comment on specific objectives and strategies; and
Circulation of a draft five-year
R&D plan to the Honeybee R&D Advisory Committee for comment.
Results from the consultation
process have been aggregated and reported in the section below.
Future
R&D Priorities
Survey respondents were
asked whether the RIRDC Hhoneybee Pprogram should spend more or less of
its total budget on its nine current research objectives and whether they
could nominate any new areas requiring research that the Pprogram was not
addressing.
Future R&D priorities
as identified by stakeholders are summarised in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Future R&D
Priorities – Stakeholder Consultation
Source: R&D Advisory
Committee Survey Results
From Figure 1 it can be seen
that the highest priorities for future RIRDC honeybee R&D are:
Genetic improvement – as a means
of increasing hive productivity;
Extension – including communication
and encouraging future leaders/researchers;
Pollination research – unfounded
in the plan since at least 2002; and
Pest and disease management
– historically a major area for Pprogram funding.
Specific
Research Suggestions
Specific research suggestions
revealed through consultation included:
Learning techniques to minimise
the impact the impact of Varroa Mite and Small Hive Beetle;
Technologies for trapping small
hive beetle outside the hive;
Peak season flowering cycle
in eucalypts;
More effort into improved marketing
and new product development;
Investigation of the potential
for other industries (eg horticulture) to contribute to the R&D Pprogram
given the benefits honeybees bring to their industry; and
Promotion of the industry to
the public.
Consultation results were further
inputs into honeybee R&D plan formulation.
Industry
Commitment to Research
The Australian honeybee
industry is strongly committedment to R&D. Questions posed during R&D
plan consultation revealed:
Overwhelming support for the
RIRDC Honeybee R&D Pprogram – 80% of respondents indicated that the
Pprogram has played a critical role in ensuring the honeybee industry remains
competitive, profitable and sustainable. One respondent noted that the
industry was currently not profitable. Several others indicated that R&D
had been helpful rather than critical; and
Overwhelming support for the
role played by government – 100% of respondents indicated that government
should continue to match each dollar growers provide to the Pprogram.
Additional specific comments
on the value of the R&D Pprogram included:
Excellent publications and information;
R&D Pprogram looks into
things we as beekeepers don’t have the time, money or knowledge to do;
Not all projects are winners
but we must keep on investing in R&D;
The RIRDC R&D Program is
essential for the future of the industry;
A research dollar is potentially
worth $20 in industry benefit; and
There is no critical mass in
our research Pprogram without government matching contributions.
Support for the research pProgram
has also shaped the proposed five-year plan.
The
R&D Program 2007 -– 2012
Key
Themes Shaping Future Research Directions
Goal
Objectives
Strategies
Performance
Indicators
Resource
Allocation
Objective
1: Pest and Diseases Protection
Objective
2: Productivity and profitability enhancement to lift beekeeper income
Objective
3: Resource access security and knowledge
Objective
4: Pollination research
Objective
5: Income diversification, new product development
Objective
6: Extension, communication and capacity building
Key
Themes Shaping Future Research Directions
Key themes emerging from
Pprogram review, external priorities, consultation and the direction-setting
workshop are:
Pests and diseases preparedness
and management are the most important area for honeybee Honeybee R&D;
and iImprovement is essential
in order to address declining terms of trade for beekeepers;
There is sufficient current
investment in bee nutrition research;
It is not the role of R&D
to evaluate pollination standards or complete pollination audits;
Market analysis and industry
statistics were afforded a relatively low priority by the industry;
It is important that the Pprogram
not repeat research completed elsewhere;
There is benefit in preparing
a compendium of international research findings;
Practical research works best
in this industry i.e. outputs that are beekeeper friendly;
QA adoption is not the responsibility
of the R&D Pprogram;
Blue sky research cannot be
justified in a relatively small, applied research program; and
A contingency fund for unplanned
issues is prudent, and RIRDC has a levy reserves policy.
Goal
To improve the productivity,
sustainability and profitability of the Australian beekeeping industry
through the organisation, funding and management of a research, development
and extension Pprogram that is both stakeholder and market focussed.
Objectives
Six objectives drive the
2007-20122007–2012 R&D Pprogram:
Pest and disease protection;
Productivity and profitability
enhancement to lift beekeeper income;
Resource access security and
knowledge;
Pollination research;
Income diversification including
new product development; and
Extension, communication and
capacity building.
Objectives should be regarded
as complementary, with flexible boundaries to enable key issues to be addressed
either simultaneously or sequentially through several components of the
Pprogram.
Strategies
Strategies indicate specific
research areas that will contribute to achieving the six objectives. Strategies
have been defined at a level that gives research providers guidance on
where RIRDC is intending to target its investments over the period 2007-20122007–2012
and are intended to contribute to the longer term planning requirements
of those providers. Strategies will be complemented with more specific
research priorities published annually that provide more detailed guidance
about the project areas that RIRDC is seeking to fund in the coming year.
Performance
Indicators
Performance indicators are
provided to assess whether the research strategies have contributed to
the R&D objectives. Where possible, performance indicators have been
linked to benchmarks for previous honeybee industry performance.
Resource
Allocation
Budget allocation has been
prepared following analysis of historical allocations and consultation
findings see Table 4 below.
Table 4. Historical and
Suggested Resource Allocation by Plan Objective (%)
|
Historical Allocation
(3 years to 30 June 05)
|
Group 1 Direction
Setting Workshop
|
Group 2 Direction
Setting Workshop
|
Group 3 Direction
Setting Workshop
|
Group 4 Direction
Setting Workshop
|
| Pests/diseases |
48
|
45
|
50
|
20
|
40
|
| Nutrition |
13
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Genetics/husbandry |
21
|
10
|
10
|
15
|
20
|
| Income
Ddiversifcation |
0
|
10
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
| Resource
access |
9
|
10
|
10
|
20
|
10
|
| Pollination |
0
|
5
|
10
|
15
|
10
|
| Marketing |
8
|
10
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
| Extension,
etc |
1
|
10
|
10
|
20
|
10
|
Total
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
Source: AgEconPlus analysis
and direction setting workshop, Launceston July 2006
Chapter 7 of this
document provides a consolidated plan budget based on a ‘normal case’ scenario
and forecast levy increases.
Objective
1: Pest and Diseases Protection
Objectives
To be prepared for exotic pest
and disease incursion before they occur and to evaluate and have in place
management strategies prior to any such incursion (including an emergency
and surveillance response).
To prevent the establishment
of exotic pests and diseases of economic significance.
To manage endemic pests and
diseases that impact on beekeeper profitability.
Strategies
Research New Zealand’s experience
with Varroa destructor incursion and ensure response strategies
for Australia are appropriate/best practice.
To undertake appropriate genetic
research to improve resistance/ tolerance to Varroa destructor.
Undertake Tropilaelaps clareae
mite research and ensure incursion response strategies are appropriate/best
practice.
Research the implications of
Africanised gene establishment in Australia; Africanised bees are an exotic
pest.
Invest in Small Hive Beetle
(Aethina tumida) control to arrest its spread and economic impact.
Increase awareness of the need
to manage and control endemic pests and diseases including Nosema apis,
American
Foulbrood, European foulbrood, Chalk brood and sacbrood virus.
Develop American Foulbrood scent
detection equipment.
Encourage beekeeper participation
and commitment to the industry’s QA Pprogram with its requirements for
pest/disease control and chemical residue management.
Develop non-chemical controls
for pests and diseases to ensure Australian apiary products are contaminant
free.
Performance Indicators and
Related Measures
Early detection of Varroa and
Tropilaelaps incursion should this occur.
Cost effective non-chemical
controls for small hive beetle and other pests/diseases of economic significance
by 2010.
Reduction in production losses
caused by pests and diseases – to be established by survey in 2012 where
appropriate.
Increased industry participation
in the industry’s QA Pprogram to stem the spread of pests and disease –
participation to be established by survey in 2012.
Indicative Share of R&D
Budget
45% of the Pprogram budget to
be allocated to Objective 1.
Historically this area has received
48% of the R&D plan budget and stakeholders support this level of allocation.
Source: AgEconPlus analysis
and direction setting workshop, Launceston July 2006
Objective
2: Productivity and profitability enhancement to lift beekeeper income
Objectives
To encourage a culture of constant
improvement in bee husbandry and bee management in the Australian beekeeping
industry.
To provide an across the board
lift to Australian beekeeping industry productivity and profitability and
address the industry’s declining terms of trade.
To focus productivity improvement
on bee genetics, best management practices and industry benchmarking.
Strategies
Facilitate genetic improvement
in the Australian bee industry through the introduction of superior queen
bees.
Facilitate genetic improvement
to lift bee hygienic behaviour and control pests and diseases.
Seek out and facilitate the
introduction of genetics for mite tolerance i.e. Varroa destructor
and Tropilaelaps clareae.
Identify bee genetic traits
that facilitate the further development of the packaged bee sector.
Develop techniques and technologies
for identification of queen bees.
Prepare and communicate a comprehensive
set of industry Best Management Practice guides.
Undertake industry production
and financial benchmarking to raise average industry yield and reduce yield
spread for beekeepers working under similar conditions.
Performance Indicators and
Related Measures
10% increase in average hive
yield by 2012 allowing for seasonal variability.
10% reduction in yield spread
for beekeepers working under similar conditions at the same time.
20% increase in beekeeper profitability.
Performance indicators to be
measured using 2003 data as a comparison.
Indicative Share of R&D
Budget
15% of the Pprogram budget to
be allocated to Objective 2.
Historically this area has received
21% of the R&D plan budget and stakeholders support an allocation between
10% and 20%.
Objective
3: Resource access security and knowledge
Objectives
To ensure adequate resources
are available to sustain a profitable and productive honeybee industry.
To win back a share of native
forest access lost in previous resource allocation decisions.
To better understand the native
floral resource on which the industry depends.
To address the implications
of climate change on the Australian apiary industry.
Strategies
Communication to policy makers
of the importance of public forest access to the continued viability of
the Apiary industry.
Invest R&D funds in research
to better understand the interaction between native flora/ fauna and honeybees.
Support the development of a
national code of conduct for public native forestry use (DAFF project).
Communicate importance of bushfire
control in maintaining the floral resource.
Develop technologies and techniques
for determining floral resource yields.
Invest in research to determine
native flora flowering cycles.
Update and improve the accuracy
of the Queensland Floral Database, examine the needs for similar resources
in other Australian states.
Determine climate change impact
on honeybee production by assembling up to date climate research findings
and drawing out implications for floral production.
Performance Indicators and
Related Measures
No further loss in bee sites
in public lands.
10% increase in bee sites on
public lands by 2012.
Improved understanding of native
resources and trends in their production by 2012.
All KPIs to be measured in an
industry survey in 2012.
Indicative Share of R&D
Budget
10% of the Pprogram budget to
be allocated to Objective 3.
Historically this area has received
9% of the R&D plan budget and most stakeholders support an allocation
of 10%
Objective
4: Pollination research
Objectives
To better understand the cost
and value of pollination services provided by beekeepers.
To generate industry value through
shared learning with crop producers, especially the Australian almond industry.
Strategies
Assess the value to crop producers
of pollination services on an individual crop basis to assist beekeepers
with the pricing of their services (eg almonds, pome fruit, canola, etc).
Research and communicate the
cost of pollination service provision to beekeepers to assist them with
the pricing of pollination services (costs to include beekeeper investment
in hive preparation).
Extend the Tasmanian Crop
Pollination Association Code of Practice to all Australian states.
Investigate the feasibility
of investment in joint R&D projects with the Australian almond industry
(especially with HAL).
Performance Indicators and
Related Measures
Information guides available
on cost of pollination service provision and value generated for each of
the most important horticultural/agricultural crops by 2012.
Six state based codes of practice
for pollination to be published by 2012. Codes to be published at the rate
of one per annum.
One joint R&D project with
the Australian almond industry by 2010.
Indicative Share of R&D
Budget
10% of the Pprogram budget to
be allocated to Objective 4.
Historically this area has received
0% of the R&D plan budget and stakeholders support an allocation between
5% and 15%.
Objective
5: Income diversification, new product development
Objectives
To provide a major boost to
packaged bee sales, an area of strong competitive advantage for the Australian
industry.
To develop new Australian apiary
products such as medicinal honey, organic wax for the cosmetics industry,
royal jelly, bee venom, pollen and propolis sales, secondary priorities
for niche products.
Strategies
Support R&D to facilitate
the growth of Australian packaged bee sales. Packaged bees are a profitable
product with a known market for which Australia has a competitive advantage.
Support R&D to facilitate
the development of at least one new Australian apiary product. Selected
product to be supported after feasibility assessment of niche opportunities
such as medicinal honey, and organic wax.
Performance Indicators and
Related Measures
20% growth in packaged bee sales
from 2010 to 2012.
A single viable enterprise producing
commercial quantities of a new Australian apiary product, which has received
support from the Hhoneybee R&D pProgram. Enterprise to be in place
by 2012.
Indicative Share of R&D
Budget
10% of the Pprogram budget to
be allocated to Objective 5.
Historically this area has received
0% of the R&D plan budget and most stakeholders support an allocation
of 10%.
Objective
6: Extension, communication and capacity building
Objectives
To improve industry performance
through the adoption of relevant R&D project outcomes and beekeeper
participation in vocational training.
To educate the public and policy
makers on the economic contribution made by the honeybee industry.
To build capacity in the Australian
honeybee industry by encouraging the next generation of industry leaders
and researchers.
Strategies
Ensure honeybee R&D outputs
are in a form that is suitable for beekeeper use (eg state association
newsletters rather than internet delivery).
Increase uptake of R&D outcomes
through delivery via appropriate and well-funded channels (eg presentations
at industry forums, field days, etc).
Support initiatives to increase
beekeeper participation in vocational training, especially business management
training. This might include funding development of course content based
on R&D project outcomes (eg benchmarking study results).
Preparation and distribution
of easily digested compendiums of up to date and relevant research.
Engage with policy makers and
public opinion leaders to explain the economic contribution bee keeping
makes through pollination and the importance of ongoing access to public
forests.
Educate the public and policy
makers on the need to avoid pest/disease incursion.
Educate crop producers on the
economic contribution made by pollination services.
Develop scholarship opportunities
and or travel grants for young industry leaders and researchers to ensure
the next generation of talent is available to the industry.
Performance Indicators and
Related Measures
Participation by 20% of the
industry in targeted vocational training by 2010.
A compendium of international
research prepared and distributed by 2008.
A greater understanding of apiary
issues by policy makers/opinion leaders/crop producers – to be established
by survey in 2012.
One new annual industry scholarship/travel
grant in place by 2009.
Indicative Share of R&D
Budget
10% of the Pprogram budget to
be allocated to Objective 6.
Historically this area has received
1% of the R&D plan budget and stakeholders suggest an allocation between
10% and 20%.
Proposed
Budget
A five-year R&D plan
budget has been prepared by projecting forecast levy increases on historical
revenues received. The resulting estimate is for a five-year ‘normal case’.
The budget is presented in Table 5.
|
|
|
2007-–12 Five Year
Plan
|
|
|
|
2007/2008
|
2008/2009
|
2009/2010
|
2010/2011
|
2011/2012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| OPENING
RESERVES |
301,963 |
328,041 |
330,681 |
327,321 |
323,961 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| REVENUES |
|
|
|
|
|
| Industry
Levies |
310,000
|
310,000
|
360,000
|
360,000
|
360,000
|
| Commonwealth
Contributions |
309,778
|
300,000
|
300,000
|
300,000
|
300,000
|
| Other
Income |
18,000
|
18,000
|
18,000
|
18,000
|
18,000
|
| TOTAL
REVENUE |
|
