Australia boosts national bee defence
Australia’s defences against destructive exotic bee pests have been strengthened, with Hort Innovation announcing the next five-year phase of the National Bee Pest Surveillance Program (NBPSP).
The NBPSP was established in 2012 as an early detection surveillance program targeting exotic and regionalised pests of honey bees at air and sea ports, where pests are most likely to enter Australia. Since its commencement, the NBPSP has detected several pest incursions, triggering response activities and demonstrating the program’s value.
The new phase of the program will continue targeted surveillance in Australia’s highest risk areas to enable the early detection of 18 exotic and regionally significant bee pests, safeguarding the honey bee industry and the $12 billion worth of pollination services which Australian agriculture relies on each year.
It’s important to note that while olives are not dependent on bees for pollination, they do contribute to the process. Many olive producers also have other insect-pollinated crops, so this is good news for our industry too.
Delivered by Plant Health Australia in partnership with all state and territory governments, the surveillance program takes a risk-based, nationally consistent approach to monitoring threats such as exotic honey bees, invasive mites and emerging bee viruses before they can establish and spread.
The program will operate at a minimum of eight high-risk air and sea ports across Australia, with surveillance activities delivered by state and territory biosecurity agencies using specialist hives, detection and diagnostics. Surveillance will focus on pests that pose the greatest threat to honey bees.
Plant Health Australia will oversee program co-ordination, governance and data management, working closely with jurisdictions to ensure surveillance results contribute to national reporting and decision-making.
The National Bee Pest Surveillance Program (PH25001) is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers with co-investment from 14 horticultural industries, Australian honey bee industry levies, Grain Producers Australia, significant in-kind contributions from all states and the Northern Territory Government, and contributions from the Australian Government.