Summary

This procurement is a co-investment with Hort Innovation. It has been procured and is being managed by Hort Innovation through the Hort Innovation | Hort Frontiers strategic partnership initiative (horticulture.com.au). 

The project will support the health and expansion of the Australian stingless bee industry as a valuable complimentary pollinator to honey bees and as a source of niche native bee honey. The project will improve the understanding of stingless bee nutrition, pathogens, mass reproduction and pollination efficacy for different crop species, including emerging industries and cropping environments. 
 
This project aligns with the current AgriFutures Strategic Plan which has been mapped against the National Agricultural Innovation Priorities Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The SDGs are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”, and were setup in 2015 by the UN General Assembly. Sustainable agriculture contributes to at least 6 of the 17 SDGs.

Program

New and Emerging Industries

Research Organisation

Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited

Objective Summary

The objectives of this investment are to: 

 – Understand and improve stingless bee nutrition 

 – Understand and address the impacts of pathogen exposure on pollination success 

 – Improve stingless bee rearing and efficacy