- The Crisafulli Government has hosted a honey bee industry roundtable to address the impacts of varroa mite and miticide resistance.
- Experts, industry and multiple levels of government discussed 10 priority actions and set the stage for further discussions on 28 July.
- Honey bee pollination underpins $12.9 billion in crops annually, and is key part of the Crisafulli Government’s bold plan help grow Queensland’s primary industries sector to $30 billion by 2030.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger economy after a decade of decline under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government has convened a honey bee industry roundtable to help protect Queensland’s mightiest pollinators and safeguard national food security.
The Government partnered with the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) and the Queensland Beekeepers Association (QBA) to host the roundtable on Tuesday 30 June.
The critical talks were in response to the escalating impacts of varroa mite and emerging resistance of the mites to chemical treatments on beekeepers, pollination services and pollination-dependent industries.
Tuesday’s roundtable explored 10 priority action areas and tested proposed actions, identified practical pathways forward and agreed on key issues for consideration at a follow-up forum being held on 28 July.
Honey bee pollination is imperative to broader food security, supporting crops worth around $12.9 billion each year, making a strong and sustainable beekeeping industry critical to the future of Australian agriculture.
The spread of varroa mite across Australia and the detection of chemical resistance in varroa mites across NSW, Qld, Victoria and South Australia has caused significant concern from commercial and recreational beekeepers and pollination-reliant industries.
Unlike Labor who let biosecurity protections erode during their decade of decline, the Crisafulli Government is helping to identify practical regulatory, biosecurity, funding and implementation pathways that can support industry.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said it was an important opportunity to get all the key players together to work out a coordinated, practical approach.
“The Crisafulli Government cares deeply about its bees, beekeeping and pollinating industry, and Tuesday’s discussion reinforces that protecting those industries and ultimately our national food security is a shared responsibility,” Minister Perrett said.
“The Honey Bee Industry Emergency Roundtable was a chance to bring forward practical ideas, prioritise actions, and work collectively across industries and different levels of government towards one united goal: ensuring the resilience of the beekeeping sector and the essential pollination services it provides.
“The pressures of varroa mite and rising miticide resistance are creating real uncertainty for beekeepers, and the Crisafulli Government is committed to supporting a strong future, for the industry that is vital for food security, by working closely with stakeholders to develop practical solutions.
“Noting this is a national issue, long-term success will depend on ongoing collaboration between industry, jurisdictions and the Australian government.
“We are proud to stand with the sector and deeply appreciate the efforts of organisations like the Queensland Beekeepers Association and Australian Honey Bee Industry Council in driving these important conversations forward.”
