National Honey Bee Breeding Strategy 2024-2029
In all livestock industries, genetic selection has been used to increase animal productivity and, by extension, enterprise profitability. The Australian honey bee industry is no...
Published: 10 Oct 2013
Author(s): RIRDC
Download report PDF
DownloadAround 65 per cent of agricultural production in Australia depends on pollination by European honeybees.
In Australia, 35 industries are dependent on honeybee pollination for most of their production. Crops vary in how much they rely on or respond to pollination by bees. Some industries, such as almonds, apples, pears and cherries, depend almost totally on bees for fruit and nut production.
The potentially devastating impact of exotic pests such as Varroa mite, which is yet to reach Australia, pose a significant threat to honeybees and our pollination services.