Commercial beekeeping in Australia

A new publication on commercial beekeeping describes the unique physical and cultural environment in which Australian beekeeping is undertaken and the current demand for honey products and pollination services.

Commercial Beekeeping in Australia has been released by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) and details the production methods commonly employed by beekeepers.

The Australian Honeybee Industry produces around 30,000 tonnes of honey each year, as well as products like beeswax, live bees and royal jelly, collectively worth around $65 million. In addition, the industry provides pollination services worth over $1.7 billion to other agricultural industries.

"Beekeeping in Australia has developed to meet our unique climate and flora," Margie Thomson, RIRDC general manager for research said. "Australian beekeepers have shown great ingenuity in devising methods of production and patterns of management that have led to a successful national beekeeping industry."

The industry is made up of more than 9000 registered beekeepers that manage over 600,000 hives. With greater than 25% of honey exported each year, the price received by commercial beekeepers depends on both domestic and international demand for honey products. There is also a growing market for pollination services and queen bees.

Beekeepers have been assisted in their endeavours, particularly in recent years, by world standard research," Thomson said.

"RIRDC, through its Honeybee Research and Development program, is pleased to be a vital part of the national apicultural research effort," she said.

The publication provides key statistics and information on the honeybee industry and explains the key industry opportunities and threats.

One significant threat to the industry is the varroa mite, which can spread rapidly, killing off entire honeybee colonies.

"At the moment this pest has spread to nearly every country, with Australia being virtually the only exception," Thomson said.

"RIRDC is working with the industry, as well as with those industries dependent on honeybee pollination services, to ensure that we provide the best possible protection and preparedness for the varroa threat," she said.