Growers urged to prepare for pollination challenges as Varroa mite reshapes industry
- Jess Dempster
- 18 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Australia's horticulture industry is being urged to start planning for a future where reliable crop pollination can no longer be taken for granted, as the continued spread of Varroa mite forces growers and beekeepers to rethink how pollination services will be delivered.
The National Farmers' Federation Horticulture Council and the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council are encouraging growers to assess their future pollination needs and strengthen relationships with commercial beekeepers as Australia transitions to living with the destructive pest.
Speaking with FlowFM's Jessica Dempster on The Country Viewpoint, National Farmers' Federation Horticulture Council executive officer Richard Shannon said Australia had been the last continent free of Varroa mite before it was detected several years ago.
"Varroa is a devastating pest of European honeybees," Mr Shannon said.
"Without proper treatment and management, it can cause colonies to collapse, and that's likely to be the case in feral bee populations where there aren't beekeepers managing them."
Australia initially attempted to eradicate the pest following its detection in 2022, but after extensive control efforts revealed this was not feasible, focus shifted towards managing Varroa's long-term presence and minimising its impact on bee populations and pollination-dependent industries.
Mr Shannon said one of the biggest concerns for horticulture in an Varroa-endemic Australia was the likely loss of feral European honeybee populations, which currently provide valuable pollination services at no cost to growers.
"In places where Varroa has become established, we've seen feral bee populations collapse almost entirely," he said.
"New Zealand is probably the best example. European honeybees in the wild there are thought to be more or less extinct because of Varroa."
This decline of feral bees in Australia comes at a time when many beekeepers are also considering leaving the industry due to the increased financial pressure and strain associated with managing the pest.
Mr Shannon said beekeeping is already operating on fairly fine margins, with some keepers now considering leaving the industry at the same time horticultural producers may need to turn to them to source managed hives for pollination.
He said growers should start considering how dependent their crops are on managed pollination, with research showing some commodities rely more heavily on European honeybees than others - although there is still a lot to learn about the pollination process in relation to many crops.
"There are still knowledge gaps, particularly for some of the smaller horticultural industries," he said.
"We don't always know how much pollination has historically come from feral honeybees or how much native pollinators might be able to fill the gap."
Mr Shannon said stronger communication between growers and beekeepers would help both industries prepare for the transition, giving producers a better understanding of their future pollination requirements while providing beekeepers with greater confidence to invest in expanding their operations.
To help bridge that knowledge gap, the National Farmers' Federation Horticulture Council and the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council will host a free national webinar on August 5 focused on managing pollination in a Varroa-endemic Australia.
Mr Shannon said the webinar would provide growers with practical information while encouraging greater collaboration between the horticulture and beekeeping sectors as both industries adapt to a changing pollination landscape.
"We're trying to bring growers and beekeepers together to ensure there's an exchange of knowledge and information about what the likely need or demand will be for pollination services, so beekeepers have more confidence and growers build a better idea of their pollination needs," Mr Shannon said.
"We thought a webinar would be timely, particularly for those growers who are only just starting to consider their options here."
"There is an interest and appetite from industry to better understand this challenge moving forward."
Growers interested in learning more about preparing for Varroa's impact on pollination, or registering for the free webinar, can visit the National Farmers' Federation Horticulture Council or register via the National Farmers' Federation webinar information page.