Varroa mite spread threatens free pollination for Australian horticulture industry

The Australian horticulture industry has for generations relied on millions of feral honey bees to pollinate crops.

But as varroa mite spreads further north in Queensland, experts say free pollination from wild bee populations is disappearing, forcing growers to rethink how they produce food and secure commercial pollination services.

North Queensland commercial beekeeper Keith Lang said pollination services could no longer be taken for granted.

"People think bees are all about honey, but we can do without honey," he said.

"We can't do without pollination."

A hidden workforce

The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council says honey bees contribute about $4.6 billion in pollination services each year, helping produce about 65 horticultural crops across the country.

Chief executive Danny Le Feuvre said once varroa mite became established overseas, about 95 per cent of feral honey bee colonies disappeared.

"For a long time, growers have benefited from free pollination from feral bees," he said.

"As those populations decline, growers will increasingly rely on managed hives supplied by commercial beekeepers."

The transition comes at a difficult time for the beekeeping industry.

Managing varroa mite has significantly increased costs and labour requirements, while low honey prices have made it harder for many businesses to remain profitable.

Mr Le Feuvre said surveys indicated a significant number of commercial beekeepers were considering leaving the industry just as demand for managed pollination services was expected to rise.

The industry has also released a new national Research, Development and Extension (RD & E) Plan, aimed at strengthening Australia's honey bee and pollination sector as it adapts to varroa mite.

The plan identifies priorities including improving varroa management, accelerating bee breeding and genetics, increasing pollination research, strengthening biosecurity and supporting commercial beekeepers to maintain healthy hive numbers for both honey production and crop pollination.

Growers face rising costs

Bundaberg horticultural agronomist and avocado grower Lisa Fyffe knows first-hand how important pollination is for production.

"The European honey bee is definitely the most effective pollinator we have," she said.

"If varroa takes out those wild populations, what do we do then? All of a sudden the reliance on commercial beekeepers increases, and I don't think anyone is really ready for it."

Ms Fyffe said pollination costs had already increased significantly.

"The price has doubled per hive," she said.

"A $50,000 pollination bill suddenly becomes a $100,000 bill. If you don't have the fruit set in the first place, you don't have a crop to sell."

She said growers also needed to rethink how they managed their orchards by providing better habitat for pollinators through flowering ground cover, water sources and improved biodiversity.

Planning ahead

The National Farmers' Federation Horticulture Council is encouraging growers to start planning earlier for pollination services rather than waiting until flowering begins.

Executive officer Richard Shannon said growers needed to start treating pollination as an essential business input and incorporate it into their seasonal planning.

"The purpose is to help growers understand what their future pollination needs might be and encourage them to start those conversations with beekeepers much earlier," he said.

Communication will be critical

Both the horticulture and beekeeping industries agree stronger communication between growers and commercial beekeepers will be essential as Australia continues to adapt to living with varroa mite.

Mr Le Feuvre said early planning was imperative to avoid competition in securing healthy hives for pollination.

He also urged Australians to support local beekeepers by purchasing Australian honey.

"The best way we're going to get through this is by improving profitability for our beekeepers so they can rebuild hive numbers and continue supplying pollination services," he said.

As the free pollination once provided by feral bees disappears, Keith Lang said commercial beekeepers would carry more of the responsibility for keeping crops productive.

"It's not just beekeepers; it's the farmers as well that's going to be hit," he said.